The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission announced on March 25 that it will hold three public hearings in April to gather input on proposed rules for monitoring and reducing three types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in wastewater discharged into the state’s surface waters.
These hearings are part of a public comment period that began March 16, allowing residents to voice concerns about the presence of PFOS, PFOA, and GenX—synthetic chemicals commonly known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment. According to the commission, an estimated 3.5 million people in North Carolina drink tap water with PFAS levels above what will be allowed under upcoming federal health standards.
The first hearing is scheduled for April 7 at AB-Tech Community College in Asheville. The second will take place April 20 at the Archdale Building in Raleigh, and the third is set for April 23 at Wilmington’s City Hall Skyline Center. Registration for each event begins one hour before start time. In addition to speaking at these events, written comments can be submitted by email or mail through June 15.
The proposed rules—identified as 15A NCAC 02b .0512 and 15A NCAC 02H .0923—would require industrial facilities with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits and certain public treatment plants accepting industrial waste to monitor discharges for PFOS, PFOA, and GenX. Direct industrial dischargers would also need plans focused on identifying and reducing both direct and indirect releases of these compounds into surface waters.
Public feedback is being sought not only on the draft regulations but also on whether scientific thresholds should trigger continuous monitoring, if rule applicability should be limited based on industry classification codes associated with PFAS use or discharge, and whether all regulated entities should report results from EPA Method 1633A testing.
Participation from residents is encouraged both orally during hearings or through written submissions addressing any aspect of the proposed rules or regulatory impact analysis. Time limits may apply depending on turnout. The full text of the draft regulations is available online.
