The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission announced on March 17 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.
The hearings are part of a public comment period that began on March 16. The issue is significant because PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” do not break down in the environment and can accumulate in humans and animals. According to the commission, an estimated 3.5 million residents in North Carolina drink tap water with PFAS levels above those allowed by upcoming United States Environmental Protection Agency health standards.
The first hearing will take place at AB-Tech Community College in Asheville on April 7 at 6:00 p.m., with registration starting at 5:00 p.m. The second hearing is scheduled for April 20 at the Archdale Building in Raleigh, also beginning at 6:00 p.m., while the third will be held on April 23 at Wilmington’s City Hall Skyline Center. Each event allows time for participant registration before comments begin.
In addition to oral comments during these sessions, written feedback can be submitted by email or postal mail through June 15. The commission is seeking input not only on the proposed rules—identified as 15A NCAC 02b .0512 and 15A NCAC 02H .0923—but also on whether it would be scientifically advisable to set detection thresholds for PFOS, PFOA, and GenX that would trigger ongoing monitoring and reduction efforts. Another question under consideration is whether monitoring requirements should apply only to industrial dischargers associated with specific industry classifications known to use or discharge PFAS.
The proposed regulations would require direct industrial dischargers and major indirect users to develop plans focused on identifying and reducing releases of PFOS, PFOA, and GenX into surface waters. These measures aim to characterize the presence of these compounds from both permitted industrial sources under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program and from public treatment plants accepting waste from significant industrial users.
Copies of the proposed rules are available online for review. The commission encourages all interested parties to participate either orally or in writing during this process.
