Virginia Communities Push Against PFAS in Biosolids

Sickly cows grazing in a pasture while a few lie dead on the ground.

CLIFF NOTES● Biosolids used as fertilizer may contain PFAS chemicals.● Virginia does not currently require PFAS testing of biosolids.● Residents fear contamination of soil, groundwater, and drinking water.● Other states have moved to restrict PFAS-laden sludge.● Regulatory gaps leave communities responsible for monitoring risk.   In Virginia, the path from household or industrial waste to … Read more

NC DEQ Orders Chemours to Expand PFAS Well Testing

nvironmental worker collecting water sample from private well in North Carolina

CLIFF NOTES● NC ordered expanded PFAS testing around the Chemours facility.● Thousands of additional wells are now eligible.● Contamination is linked to industrial operations.● Residents can request testing through state programs.● Testing helps identify exposure risks.   The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has ordered Chemours to widen its testing of private drinking … Read more

Pig Waste Spill Floods North Carolina Waterway

Aerial view of pig waste spill flowing into Doctor’s Creek tributary in Duplin County.

A quiet weekend in North Carolina took a turn when over 80,000 gallons of pig waste flooded a waterway. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) estimates the spill at 84,000 gallons, pouring into a tributary of Doctor’s Creek in Duplin County. This creek feeds the Northeast Cape Fear River, part of the state’s … Read more

EPA Urged to Revoke State’s Water Permitting Authority

Aerial view of North Carolina river with text "NC DEQ In Deep Water."

Several North Carolina environmental organizations are calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to remove the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) authority over water permitting. Citing political interference and chronic underfunding, these groups argue that DEQ has been rendered ineffective in safeguarding the state’s water quality. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed … Read more

NC Homes Alerted to PFAS in Private Wells

A photorealistic image of a rural water well with a toxic symbol on the bucket, set against a lush countryside background.

In a concerning development for residents of an unincorporated area in Cumberland County, North Carolina, reports have emerged about the contamination of private well water with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.” This discovery has prompted a flurry of alerts from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), raising alarm over the … Read more