A group of North Carolina lawmakers has introduced sweeping legislation to ban most PFAS uses, eliminate industrial discharges, and investigate health effects in communities near the Cape Fear River.
Peter Castagno reports for Port City Daily.
In short:
- House Bill 881, introduced by four Democratic lawmakers, would ban non-essential PFAS use statewide, prohibit PFAS and 1,4-dioxane discharges into drinking water, and require industries to disclose contamination. It also mandates studies on exposure pathways and health impacts, with a focus on the Cape Fear River Basin.
- The bill directs nearly $100 million to state agencies for scientific research, regulatory studies, and contamination tracking. It also instructs the Department of Environmental Quality to study PFAS in biosolids and landfill leachate and to propose rules by 2026.
- Legislators backing the bill face expected opposition from the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, which represents PFAS manufacturers. Previous PFAS legislation has been blocked by the group, including a similar bill co-sponsored by Rep. Deb Butler and Rep. Ted Davis.
Key quote:
“Aren’t we all tired of being a few rich people’s PFAS sacrifice zone?”
— Emily Donovan, co-founder of Clean Cape Fear
Why this matters:
In places like the Cape Fear region, long-term exposure to PFAS has been linked to higher rates of cancer, thyroid disorders, and immune dysfunction. 1,4-dioxane, another emerging contaminant, is often discharged with industrial wastewater and has been detected at alarming levels in North Carolina’s waterways, including sources of public drinking water. Both chemicals pose persistent challenges because they pass through conventional water treatment systems and accumulate in soil, water, and even air. With limited federal enforcement until recently, lawmakers in heavily impacted states like North Carolina are trying to fill the gap, but face an uphill battle against powerful industry resistance.
