Chemours Update: PFAS Monitoring & Compliance Report

1. RCRA Directors Meeting March 26, 2019 Chemours Update

2. Chemours – Brief History PFAS info gathered by NC DEQ 2016-2019 • Researchers found PFAS compounds in the Cape Fear river and at drinking water intakes downstream from the Chemours facility. • Analysis of surface waters identified multiple PFAS compounds, including GenX, in the Cape Fear River at higher levels below than above the Chemours facility. • Analysis of groundwater at the facility found PFAS compounds at high levels in the groundwater. • NC DHHS established GenX drinking water health goal of 140 ppt in 2017.

3. Chemours – Brief History (cont’d) PFAS info gathered by NC DEQ 2016-2019 • Well sampling found GenX and other PFAS compounds in approx. 74% of wells in a pattern different from typical groundwater plumes. • Analysis of rainwater and stack testing confirmed the air release of PFAS compounds at much higher levels than initially reported by Chemours in air permit documents. • A pilot study of GAC systems used to treat residential well water showed that PFAS could be decreased to less than detected (10 ppt). • Prohibition on releasing process wastewater to the Cape Fear River has reduced water emissions significantly.

4. Chemours – Sampling Data Rainwater Data: • https://files.nc.gov/ncdeq/GenX/Data/2019-01-10-Weekly-Rainwater-summary.pdf Water Sampling – Outfall 002, drinking water intakes • https://deq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/genx-investigation/genx-sampling-sites

5. Consent Order • NC DEQ signed a Consent Order with Chemours2/26/19: https://deq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/genx-investigation • $12M civil penalty and $1M in investigative costs. • Additional penalties will apply if Chemours fails to meet the conditions and deadlines established in the order.

6. Consent Order (cont’d.) • Supervision by DEQ, Cape Fear River Watch and the Bladen County Superior Court. • Requirement to achieve maximum reductions of all remaining PFAS contributions to the Cape Fear River on an accelerated basis, including groundwater. • Requirements to address: • Air, • Wastewater and Surface water, • Groundwater, and • Drinking water (wells and downstream intakes)

7. Consent Order Requirements Air Emissions Reductions: • Reduce air emissions of GenX through control technology with a schedule of reduction milestones: • 92 percent reduction of facility-wide GenX compound air emissions (2017 baseline level) by Dec. 31, 2018. • 99.99 percent efficiency and a 99 percent reduction facility-wide for GenX emissions (2017 baseline) by Dec. 31, 2019. • Thermal oxidizer to control all PFAS from multiple process streams. • Demonstrated reductions.

8. Consent Order Requirements Reductions to Wastewater and Surface Water: • No process wastewater discharge until an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is issued. • Submit and implement a plan for sampling all process and non-process wastewater and stormwater streams to identify any additional PFAS. • Characterization and accelerated reduction of PFAS sources to river (and downstream water intakes) • Reduce PFAS loading from the facility to the Cape Fear River from all sources (incl. groundwater and stormwater) by 80 percent in 2 years.

10. Consent Order Requirements Sample Wells and Provide Drinking Water: • Sample drinking water wells at least one-quarter mile beyond the closest well that had PFAS levels above 10 parts per trillion as well as annually retest wells that were previously sampled. • Provide permanent drinking water supply for those with GenXabove 140 parts per trillion or applicable health advisory. • Public waterline connection or whole building filtration system • Provide, install and maintain three under-sink reverse osmosis drinking water systems for well owners with combined PFAS levels above 70 parts per trillion or any individual PFAS compound above 10 parts per trillion.

11. Consent Order Requirements Groundwater and Surface Water • Lining of cooling water channel and river water sediment basins • Dewatering of Perched Zone • Additional onsite investigation and remediation

13. Consent Order Requirements • Assess and remediate PFAS contamination, on- and offsite. • Complete receptor survey • Fund 3rd party assessments of fate and transport and development of analytical chemistry methods for total organic fluorine. • Toxicity studies to determine potential health risks associated with release of PFAS compounds into the environment. • Notify and coordinate with downstream public water utilities when potential discharge of GenX compounds into the Cape Fear River above140 ppt. • Reporting

14. Other • Fish tissue testing found short-chain PFAS but no GenX in two species in a nearby pond (LM Bass and RE Sunfish). • GenX at 700-1,000 ppt in GW and surface water at pond • Truck spill results – EPA assistance • Post-hurricane sampling report

15. Truck Spill Sampling 11 PFAS detected in spilled liquid, 20,700 – 4,580,000 ng/L (ppt) GenX at 2,850,000 ng/L Soil: 2-5 PFAS detected; levels similar to background

16. Next Steps • New media testing for PFAS – river sediment • Well testing and re-testing • DHHS - blood testing survey of residents near Chemours facility • Facility plans to reduce loading to river • DEQ – Well sampling to confirm results of Chemours consultants, ensure RO systems effective, and address any data anomalies

17. Questions? Julie Woosley Hazardous Waste Section Chief NC DEQ, Div. of Waste Mgmt. Julie.Woosley@ncdenr.gov 919-707-8203