North Carolina Farmers Face PFAS Crisis: Urging Action and Support

Article Summary –

North Carolina faces widespread PFAS contamination from the Chemours plant, affecting water, soil, and agriculture, risking public health. Honeybird Farm ceased operations due to high PFAS levels. Proposed legislation, modeled after Maine’s relief fund, may support affected farmers.

PFAS, called “forever chemicals,” have dangerously infiltrated North Carolina’s water, impacting private wells statewide. Following the discovery of airborne emissions from the Chemours plant contaminating wells 27 miles distant, North Carolina and two states filed a petition with the EPA to regulate PFAS under the Clean Air Act.

PFAS contamination occurs from military base operations and manufacturing activities. These chemicals persist in soils, foods, and even air, posing risks to local farmers, rural communities, and food supply. PFAS exposure can lead to illnesses like kidney cancer and liver disease.

Farmers at Honeybird Organic Farm in Castle Hayne reported significant PFAS contamination. Their eggs tested 200 times above the EPA limit, compelling them to halt production and destroy crops to protect the community. Honeybird joins a growing list of impacted farms in the Wilmington area.

Farms near military installations in North Carolina face expensive testing and potential shutdowns due to elevated PFAS levels in their soil and water, forcing many into difficult decisions.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission recently began setting PFAS limits in groundwater, with proposed standards for surface water under review. Immediate action is needed to support farmers affected by this crisis.

Maine’s emergency relief fund offers a potential solution, aiding farmers with income replacement and infrastructure investments. This model has helped nearly all of the 59 affected farms in Maine successfully transition.

A similar federal legislation, The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act, is before Congress. It would fund states to provide financial aid, enhance monitoring, and even aid relocation of farmers.

North Carolina’s Congress members, including Alma Adams, Don Davis, and David Rouzer, can champion this cause by supporting the PFAS Act in the upcoming Farm Bill. Federal backing could offer farmers income replacement and healthcare for PFAS-related health risks.