North Carolina Leaders Urge Court to Reject Chemours EPA Settlement

North Carolina state leaders are urging a federal court to reject a $450 million settlement between the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and chemical manufacturer The Chemours Company. Governor Josh Stein, Attorney General Jeff Jackson, and Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson characterized the agreement as a "backroom deal" and a "sweetheart deal" negotiated without the state's involvement.

The dispute stems from decades of PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River caused by the Chemours Fayetteville Works plant, which affected approximately 500,000 residents. State officials argue the June agreement fails to provide drinking water relief for North Carolinians and contains no commitment to spend the $90 million earmarked for water cleanup projects within the state. They contend the deal primarily benefits West Virginia and New Jersey while allowing Chemours to resolve over 200 Clean Water Act violations without offering meaningful benefits beyond a 2019 state consent order.

The federal settlement includes a $22.5 million civil penalty and pollution control programs, yet permits Chemours to continue manufacturing PFAS for military and commercial use. While the state pushes the U.S. Department of Justice and the EPA to scrap the proposal in favor of a direct agreement with North Carolina, the North Carolina Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in September regarding a separate lawsuit filed by Jeff Jackson against Chemours and DuPont.