Lawmakers are pushing a bill to make PFAS manufacturers pay for water cleanup, with small businesses in favor and large chambers opposing it.
Ben Schachtman reports for WHQR.
In short:
- The Cape Fear Business Alliance supports House Bill 864, which would make PFAS manufacturers like Chemours pay for water filtration.
- The North Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Chemours oppose the bill, calling it redundant and overreaching.
- The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce declined to comment on the legislation.
Key quote:
"HB 864 protects businesses, their customers, and employees from contaminated water and ensures that the cost burden rests with big polluters like Chemours, not local businesses.”
— Jonathan Bridges, executive director of the Cape Fear Business Alliance
Why this matters:
PFAS contamination poses significant health risks and financial burdens. Supporters of the bill argue that the costs of cleaning up PFAS contamination—often borne by local communities and taxpayers—should be shifted to the companies that profited from their use. Small businesses, often disproportionately affected by the costs of environmental compliance and cleanup, see this as a way to level the playing field and ensure that those responsible for pollution pay their fair share.
