Community Action Spurs Rulemaking Petition: NC Water Resources to Consider Groundwater Standards for All 8 PFAS

We have big news! Our folks in Graham sparked a big change at NCDEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) and NCDWR (Department of Water Resources) and we just received notice yesterday that NCDWR will start a request for rulemaking to set an IMAC (Interim Maximum Allowable Concentration) for the 8 PFAS that we requested!

In July, the EMC (Environmental Management Commission appointed by NC General Assembly) denied a request from NCDEQ to set groundwater standards for all but two PFAS, leaving a major gap in protections for North Carolinians. Setting groundwater standards for all 8 PFAS included in EPA's drinking water standards (released earlier this year) would have protected communities on wells and given the agency tools to enforce clean ups and limits to safeguard drinking water supplies.

The sample analysis provided by the Superfund center revealed that communities in Graham have been drinking contaminated groundwater at levels over 3000 ppt for total PFAS.  (According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the maximum contaminant levels for two of the most common PFAS chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, in drinking water are set at 4 parts per trillion (ppt) each.

HRA worked with our impacted communities in Graham to draft a letter to petition rulemaking for groundwater standards. The impacted communities sent a request to start rulemaking for an IMAC (interim maximum allowable concentration) to set groundwater limits on all 8 PFAS that have been regulated by the EPA. The NC Department of Water Resources responded to this letter with a proposal to petition for rulemaking to grant this full request. This announcement today starts the public comment process, which will close on October 5th.

The big lesson from this continuing story is the power of collective action and the importance of community involvement in advocating for environmental health and justice. When affected communities and organizations come together to voice their concerns and demand action, change is possible. By collaborating and engaging in the regulatory process, neighbors can help ensure that their rights to clean water and safe living environments are upheld.