Investigative hearings being held in Wilmington to discuss GenX

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Environmental Review Commission will meet in Wilmington on Wednesday to investigate the discharge of GenX into the Cape Fear River.

Public officials from the lower Cape Fear region are invited to attend Wednesday’s hearing, which is expected to be the first of multiple meetings the commission will hold regarding the GenX discharge.

Secretaries of the state Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Health and Human Services and Chemours officials will be invited to attend the hearing and answer questions about the developing matter.  Members of the public are also invited to comment.

“It is important for legislators to visit the lower Cape Fear region and hear from local families, public officials and environmental experts,” Speak of the House Tim Moore & Senate Leader Phil Berger said in a joint statement. “Legislative hearings will provide a transparent process to help lawmakers and the public understand what happened, review the administration’s handling of this matter, and hopefully begin the process of identifying ways for the administration to address the immediate problem of GenX contamination in our water.”

The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the New Hanover County Government Center.

Members of the commission will also tour the Sweeney Water Treatment Plant prior to the meeting.