EPA Research Partner Support Story: GenX PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River

Partner: North Carolina Department of Environment Quality (NC DEQ)
Challenge: GenX PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River
Resource: Technical assistance for a one-mile-long soil cement barrier wall and associated seepage control structures
Project Period: 2022 – Present

In 2017, the Cape Fear River, a public water source for Wilmington, North Carolina, was found to contain levels of concern for GenX compound of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). State investigations determined that the unpermitted discharge of these hazardous chemicals into the Cape Fear River had come from the Chemours facility, a PFAS production site located near Fayetteville, NC.              

"EPA ORD scientists provided valuable technical support to NC DEQ in our oversight of the facility’s remediation measures to reduce the levels of GenX and other PFAS reaching the Cape Fear River. The support during the design, installation and testing have helped ensure that the barrier wall and treatment system address a significant source of PFAS exposure for communities along the Cape Fear River." – NC DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser                                                            

In late 2022, EPA researchers, in collaboration with colleagues from EPA Region 4 (Southeast), began to assist the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) in the remediation of GenX and other compounds from the Chemours chemical production facility that borders the Cape Fear River. EPA researchers provided technical support in reviewing the planning and construction of a one-mile-long underground soil cement barrier wall with associated seepage control structures, combined with a groundwater extraction and granulated activated carbon treatment system at the Chemours production site. These remediation components are designed to significantly reduce the PFAS levels going into the river through the containment and treatment of contaminated groundwater. NC DEQ also issued an NPDES permit for the groundwater treatment system. The permit contains technology-based effluent limitations that require the removal of greater than 99.9% of GenX and other PFAS compounds.

Agency scientists and the Region 4 team travelled to the site in April 2023 to meet with NC DEQ and observe the barrier wall installation and quality control testing. The completed barrier wall, seepage controls, and groundwater extraction system is designed to reduce the PFAS levels present in the Cape Fear Basin and protect the public drinking water that it supplies.