EPA chief, CFPUA talk GenX at national summit

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — GenX in the Cape Fear is getting attention at a summit in the nation’s capital

The head of Environment Protection Agency is speaking about new standards and tests to under more about these new threats.

The EPA hosted the summit to talk about emerging contaminants.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt laid out a series of steps the agency plans to take.

He says the EPA is working to set national contaminant levels for chemicals like GenX as well as what liability can be set under current statutes.

He adds the agency is also working to understand if these chemicals can be deemed hazardous.

“We’re also going to take action in close collaboration with our federal and state partners to develop toxicity values for GenX and PFAS,” Pruittepa said. “That’s actually ongoing. I was in Cincinnati about a month ago, and the Cincinnati lab is leading that effort.”

The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority also is presenting at this summit.

The utility is discussing how it has handled and is handling treatment of emerging contaminants in the Cape Fear River.