Following up on their initial criticism of a proposed settlement between the federal government and Chemours over "forever chemical" pollution, several of North Carolina's top leaders are putting their words into writing.
Gov. Josh Stein, N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson
, and Reid Wilson, head of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, on Thursday, July 30, sent a letter attacking the proposed deal between the chemical maker and Washington.In the letter, the officials say that Chemours for decades knowingly discharged dangerous manmade chemicals − formally known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) − from its Fayetteville Works plant 75 miles upstream of Wilmington into North Carolina's air and water.
“Now, Chemours is cutting
a settlement deal with the federal government that does next to nothing for North Carolinians and at the same time, is trying to evade the North Carolina Department of Justice’s lawsuit so it can avoid repaying the state for the damage it inflicted," Stein said in a news release. "Now is the time for the EPA and the state Supreme Court to do right by our people and our water and truly hold Chemours accountable."
Bad deal for North Carolina
In the deal announced in late June 2026, the federal government and Chemours agreed to better control emissions from plants in three states − North Carolina, West Virginia and New Jersey. It also involved commitments by the company to provide drinking water to communities around its plants, pay a civil penalty, and study new ways to further reduce PFAS emissions.
“This landmark settlement shows the administration’s commitment to protecting the public from harmful pollution,” said federal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson in a news release. “Through this commitment, Chemours will better control PFAS at its plants, allowing the company to continue its manufacturing operations while protecting communities in North Carolina, West Virginia, and New Jersey from PFAS exposure.
"This agreement ensures that the company will manufacture these critical materials in a responsible manner.”
In a news release, Chemours said the agreement with the federal government continues the company's goal "to focus on responsibly resolving outstanding environmental and regulatory matters with terms that improve site operating certainty and include payment and remediation commitments that are structured over time."
"The settlement also recognizes the significant work already completed or underway across Chemours' sites to reduce emissions and strengthen processes," the company said.
But state officials, clean water advocates and environmentalists lambasted the agreement as not doing enough for North Carolina and largely allowing Chemours to get off with little more than a slap on the wrist.
"This deal is an insult to the people of Eastern North Carolina,” Jackson said in a release last month blasting the agreement. “Our state is ground zero for GenX contamination, but this deal does practically nothing to clean up our water. Chemours made this mess, and Chemours should clean it up. The EPA will be hearing from my office.”
'Neatly packaged illusion'
In their letter to the federal government, the state officials noted that the emission restrictions − listed in the agreement's Appendix B − practically add nothing to the requirements that North Carolina has already enacted against Chemours, including curtailing almost all PFAS emissions from Fayetteville Works.
"Appendix B may very well be just a neatly packaged illusion that amounts to little or no benefit for public health or the environment in North Carolina," the letter states. "As such, this provision is substantively inadequate, unfair and against the public interest."
The letter also states that the proposed settlement "provides no assurance of environmental benefits in North Carolina" and releases Chemours from facing charges on more than 200 violations of the federal Clean Water Act at Fayetteville Works.
Along with the letter to the federal government, Stein and the state environmental agency this week also filed a supporting document in Jackson's case against DuPont and Chemours that's currently in the N.C. Supreme Court. The case is looking at whether the state can hold Chemours and DuPont, which spun off Chemours and Fayetteville Works 11 years ago after operating the plant for decades, responsible for the damage the PFAS emissions have done to North Carolina's natural resources.
Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@usatodayco.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from Journalism Funding Partners. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Top NC officials send letter to feds attacking proposed deal with Chemours
