Tyler Newman, President & CEO, Business Alliance for a Sound Economy, contributed to this Insights article
Over the past several weeks, our community has had a robust discussion about the health of the Cape Fear River.
Historically, the river has served as critical infrastructure supporting shipping, the port, power generation, jobs and water needs, while also enabling a thriving recreational function and serving as a centerpiece for Wilmington's downtown.
Among its many benefits, the Cape Fear River provides a crucial water source for our region and is vital to our future prosperity. Due to numerous technological advances, regulatory oversight and millions in infrastructure investment, our waterways and drinking water are the healthiest in our history.
The revelation regarding the presence of the perfluorochemical compound known as GenX in the Cape Fear River has understandably raised questions. Until more is known about this compound, we are pleased that Chemours announced the company will capture, remove and safely dispose of wastewater containing the byproduct GenX.
In addition, the EPA, N.C. Department of Environmental Quality and N.C. Department of Health and Human Services have taken quick action regarding this matter. We applaud these actions and have asked Gov. Roy Cooper to ensure that the agencies involved maintain a rigorous, yet urgent, process to drive improved clarity as quickly as possible.
We support the community’s quest for a better understanding of the issue at hand. Unfortunately, the public nature of our community discussion means potential investors, buyers and job creators have immediate access to media coverage and headlines that are written before the questions have been fully answered. While the “toxic” narrative has dominated headlines, we want to ensure a more comprehensive picture emerges about the health of the people and water resources in our community.
We encourage everyone to rely on the facts, as they become available, to assess the situation and take appropriate actions.
Here are some facts that bear repeating:
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