“Based on the prior Trump administration and based on the current Trump administration’s gutting of environmental protections across the board … I’m skeptical,” said Dana Sargent, executive director of CFRW. insideclimatenews.org/news/2804202...

EPA Says It Will Act on PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals.’ Advocates Raise Red Flags - Inside Climate News

The announcement emphasizes research, failing to mention ongoing litigation and existing regulation.

insideclimatenews.org

"In 2000, Pentagon and EPA officials met to discuss the serious risk PFOS posed to human health. But a 2021 Department of Defense Inspector General report found the military failed to alert service members of health risks." portcitydaily.com/local-news/g...

Army decided not to initiate MOTSU remediation after study showed high PFAS groundwater contamination | Port City Daily

BRUNSWICK COUNTY — Four years ago, the U.S. Army found high PFAS concentrations in groundwater at the largest military terminal in the country. Though a remedial investigation was recommended…

portcitydaily.com

“Aren’t we all tired of being a few rich people’s PFAS sacrifice zone?” Clean Cape Fear co-founder Emily Donovan said. portcitydaily.com/latest-news/...

New bill would ban non-essential PFAS uses, fund study on Cape Fear region health effects | Port City Daily

NORTH CAROLINA — Local elected officials are pushing a broad range of bills to address toxic chemical pollution in North Carolina, including legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Deb Butler (D-New…

portcitydaily.com

"Under a consent order with DEQ and environmental nonprofit Cape Fear River Watch, Chemours took steps, like building a thermal oxidizer to burn PFAS, that would have otherwise been released into the air and a several-story underground wall along the Cape Fear River..." www.wunc.org/politics/202...

A Wilmington Republican is once again pushing for Chemours to pay for filtration of forever chemicals

Utilities in and around Wilmington have spent more than $240 million installing filters since learning of PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River.

wunc.org

“There are thousands of people out there who may be sick or who have lost a loved one due to PFAS exposure without having a clue that it could have been avoided,” Sargent said. “ … We know enough, and we’ve known enough for decades..." www.cityviewnc.com/stories/our-...

Protestors demand action on 'forever chemical' pollution crisis

PFAS protestors gathered at the Public Works Commission in Fayetteville on Saturday to express concerns over recent 'forever chemical' news

cityviewnc.com

“After intentionally hiding their toxic PFAS pollution for decades, Chemours and DuPont now want to conceal essential information that directly affects the lives of half-a-million people,” SELC Senior Attorney Jean Zhuang said in a release Monday. coastalreview.org/2025/04/grou...

Groups move for disclosure of Chemours' sealed documents | Coastal Review

The advocacy organizations' motion against the chemical company argues that unsealing the 21,000 pages of documents “will help communities understand the harm the facility has caused, and will continu...

coastalreview.org

Do you work in and around the Cape Fear region? If so, please take a few moments to complete this ANONYMOUS survey about PFAS and the economy of the Cape Fear. If we get enough responses, this information could help us advocate for protections!! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Survey, Cape Fear Economy and PFAS

THIS FORM IS COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS. No business name, or personal information is requested in this survey. Email addresses are NOT required to complete this survey.

docs.google.com

“The fact that Chemours and DuPont are trying to hide from the public eye 20,000 pages of documents about their companies’ facility and its pollution is almost comically transparent, if it weren’t so dangerous and sinister,” CFRW exec. dir. Dana Sargent said. portcitydaily.com/latest-news/...

Chemours attempts to block internal docs in lawsuit with local utility authorities, governments | Port City Daily

NORTH CAROLINA — Chemours and DuPont are once again seeking to block public access to internal documents to be used in a lawsuit against them. This comes more than a decade after court documents…

portcitydaily.com

“...It’s a really clear illustration of: If you’re doing something to the ecosystems that you’re living in, you’re doing it to yourself.” - Lindsay Addison, coastal biologist, Audubon North Carolina Read more below... www.ehn.org/toxic-legacy...

Toxic legacy in Cape Fear River threatens both birds and people

This major North Carolina river is swimming with PFAS pollution, and scientists are scrambling to understand how these “forever chemicals” are affecting the health of birds — and the people who share ...

ehn.org

"On behalf Cape Fear River Watch and Haw River Assembly, the Southern Environmental Law Center today notified the city of Asheboro and its industrial customers, StarPet and Waste Management’s Great Oak Landfill, of its intent to sue..." Read the rest below... www.selc.org/press-releas...

Groups will sue to stop Asheboro’s toxic pollution of drinking water supplies for 900,000 North Carolinians - Southern Environmental Law Center

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—On behalf Cape Fear River Watch and Haw River Assembly, the Southern Environmental Law Center today notified the city of Asheboro and its industrial customers, StarPet and Waste Mana...

selc.org

"But in January, the Trump administration put the regulation to require testing on hold. With that, it hurt the single best way to address PFAS contamination — preventing it from entering the water and the environment in the first place." www.fayobserver.com/story/opinio...

Trump's admin lands a blow in the Cumberland fight against 'forever chemicals' | Opinion

The EPA announced major changes in PFAS regulation at a Fayetteville event just under a year ago. But hard-won progress is now at serious risk.

fayobserver.com

“...our state’s regulatory and legislative processes have continued to do the bidding of polluters— failing to protect the public they should be serving. We were left with no option but to take this to the courts,” - Dana Sargent, CFRW portcitydaily.com/latest-news/...

Local nonprofit to sue upstream 1,4-dioxane dischargers, NHC commissioners request regulation | Port City Daily

NORTH CAROLINA — Environmentalist groups notified the City of Asheboro and two of its major industries of their intent to sue for violating the Clean Water Act with toxic pollution flowing downstream…

portcitydaily.com

“For people living near the fluorochemical facility, it would be natural to wonder how important dust exposure may be,” says Jane Hoppin, environmental epidemiologist at NC State and principal investigator of the GenX Exposure Study. Read the article here: news.ncsu.edu/2025/03/31/p...

PFAS From Fluorochemical Plant Found in Dust of Nearby Homes

PFAS associated with a nearby fluorochemical plant is in the household dust of homes located in Cumberland and Bladen counties.

news.ncsu.edu

“We’ve known of the dangers of 1,4 dioxane, a cancer-causing chemical, for years,” Cape Fear River Watch executive director Dana Sargent told Port City Daily. Read the article below: portcitydaily.com/latest-news/...

Local nonprofit to sue upstream 1,4-dioxane dischargers, NHC commissioners request regulation | Port City Daily

NORTH CAROLINA — Environmentalist groups notified the City of Asheboro and two of its major industries of their intent to sue for violating the Clean Water Act with toxic pollution flowing downstream…

portcitydaily.com

The highest level of 1-4-dioxane pollution has been found at a wastewater plant in North Carolina. This is 160 times the level of what is protective of downstream drinking water. Read below for more details about CFRW and Haw River Assembly's intent to sue: www.selc.org/press-releas...

Groups will sue to stop Asheboro’s toxic pollution of drinking water supplies for 900,000 North Carolinians - Southern Environmental Law Center

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—On behalf Cape Fear River Watch and Haw River Assembly, the Southern Environmental Law Center today notified the city of Asheboro and its industrial customers, StarPet and Waste Mana...

selc.org

“They moved forward a rule that is worse than doing nothing. That is because it will give cover to polluters to do nothing even if DEQ tries to put protections in permits. DEQ should be drafting the rule. It should not be drafted by industry.” Dana Sargent, @capefearriverwatch.bsky.social

Utility industry has heavy hand in draft PFAS monitoring rule | Coastal Review

As a committee of the Environmental Management Commission works to draft a PFAS monitoring framework rule, environmental advocates argue the draft language protects industry polluters.

coastalreview.org

Our jaws were dropping! The Environmental Mgmt. Commission members repeatedly bragged that this rule was 80% written by polluting industries!! That is jaw dropping enough - but also confusing since the industry legal representation told reporters- in bold letters - that this rule was DEQs proposal!

Lisa Sorg@lisasorg.bsky.social · 2y ago

Jaws are dropping at the Env Mgt Commission meeting b/c Commish Keene just acknowledged the Water Quality Assoc wrote 80% proposed rule for #PFAS minimization plan, DEQ just filled in the blanks. WQA has denied this. @newsongs.bsky.social

About 150,000 additional private water drinking wells are eligible for PFAS testing after the state’s lead environmental agency directed Chemours’ to expand sampling in Harnett and Hoke counties. coastalreview.org/2025/03/chem...

Chemours to expand well testing for PFAS contamination | Coastal Review

About 150,000 additional private water drinking wells are eligible for PFAS testing after the state's lead environmental agency directed Chemours' to expand sampling in Harnett and Hoke counties.

coastalreview.org

The Smithfield slaughterhouse in Tar Heel is the largest in the world, slaughtering more than 35,000 animals per day, animals raised in concentration in the Cape Fear Basin www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/03/...

Canada suspends imports from biggest U.S. pork processing plant

Canada has blocked imports from the biggest U.S. pork processing plant, a facility run by Smithfield Foods in North Carolina, the company said on Friday.

cnbc.com

Cape Fear River Watch and Cape Fear Bird Observatory are celebrating Cape Fear Creek Week by providing a free walking tour in Burnt Mill Creek! Register here: cfrw.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/c... More information on this year's Cape Fear Creek Week here: brunswick.ces.ncsu.edu/natural-reso...

The Wilmington, NC Chapter of The Links Incorporated is hosting the Black Family Wellness Expo on Saturday, March 15th from 1-3pm at Maides Park! Stop by to learn more about a variety of health topics & how you can reduce the risks of diseases that disproportionately affect our Black community.

With warm weather right around the corner, we wanted to share the schedule for our Third Saturday Paddle series! Registration for each paddle will open closer to the event date. Link to Third Saturday Paddle page: capefearriverwatch.org/third-saturd...

The Environmental Management Commission is failing in their duty to protect our drinking water from toxic chemicals; their delay tactics now seem to include avoidance. Read more below: www.wral.com/news/state/n...

“Plastic is a petroleum-based product, plastic production is inherently linked to climate change. If we want to start taking climate change seriously, then we seriously need to look at plastic production,” -Rob Clark, CFRW Water Quality Programs Manager. www.wect.com/2025/02/24/s...

Supporters applaud a possible balloon release ban while other groups say more can be done

If passed, Senate Bill 20 would change how people celebrate or commemorate events.

wect.com

“Cape Fear River Watch stands with our partners in opposing offshore drilling,” - Dana Sargent, Executive Director Read the rest of the article and Dana's quote in the link below. portcitydaily.com/local-news/g...

Fight over offshore oil and gas drilling reopens after Trump rescinds coastal protections | Port City Daily

NORTH CAROLINA — The second Trump administration is seeking to open expansive coastal areas to offshore drilling a decade after several local communities passed resolutions opposing the practice.

portcitydaily.com

Join us at our Second Saturday Cleanup on March 8th in the Greenfield Lake Watershed! The cleanup is from 9-11am. Parking is available near 811 Martin St. Register here: https://cfrw.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/cfrw/event.jsp?event=8882&

"Given the PFAS crisis that North Carolinians have already experienced, we deserve transparency and action after this commission has delayed limits on these toxic chemicals for months," said Jean Zhuang, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. www.wral.com/news/state/n...

NC regulators abruptly cancel PFAS pollution meeting without explanation

A key North Carolina PFAS pollution meeting was abruptly canceled with no explanation. State leaders have not said why or when it will be rescheduled, raising concerns over regulatory delays.

wral.com

Join us on Saturday, March 1st to learn more about PFAS and PFAS levels in the blood of our community members with the GenX Exposure Study research team. CFRW Executive Director Dana Sargent will be on the panel! The conversation will be from 10am to noon at Warner Temple AME Zion Church!

“Birds really do make us happy. They force us to stop and pay close attention, to notice details more acutely. When we’re out birding, we’re experiencing the joy of being fully immersed in the present moment—very much in line with what mindfulness practices advocate.” www.audubon.org/magazine/mor...

More Birds Bring More Happiness, According to Science

A pair of new studies show how birds improve our wellbeing, adding to a growing body of evidence that avians are an antidote to our despair.

audubon.org

The case, brought by attorneys general in 22 states and the District of Columbia, represents a pivotal test for the administration as it pursues a dramatic review of government spending priorities.

Federal judge hears arguments to decide the future of Trump's federal funding freeze

The case, brought by attorneys general in 22 states and the District of Columbia, represents a pivotal test for the administration as it pursues a dramatic review of government spending priorities.

npr.org