A federal judge ordered the Chemours Chemical Company on Thursday to immediately stop discharging unlawful levels of cancer-causing chemicals into the Ohio River from the companyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Washington Works plant.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThose pollutants endanger the environment, aquatic life, and human health,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin wrote in . ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œToday, that unlawful, unpermitted discharge stops.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The West Virginia Rivers Coalition Goodwin in February to require the former DuPont, now Chemours, Washington Works facility to immediately comply with its permit limits after violating it for more than five years. The coalitionÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s request came after the group initially Chemours in December over the violations.
In ThursdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s order, Goodwin wrote that the ChemoursÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Washington Works facility ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œboldly violatesÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ its permit, and must meet its permit limits until the full case is heard later this year.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œ[Chemours] knows that it has been violating its permit, and it is likely to continue,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Goodwin wrote. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAs a direct result, the public is exposed to real and ongoing harm.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Since 2019, the Washington Works site has its permit limits by discharging higher than allowed levels of pollution, including PFAS, or ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜forever chemicals,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ into the Ohio River, which supplies drinking water for more than five million people.
Exposure to these chemicals has been to several serious health conditions, including cancer, liver and kidney damage, developmental problems and immune system disorders. Such chemicals ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” which resist heat, water, oil and grease ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” are used to produce everyday items, including nonstick pots and pans.
Chemours has the plant has violated its permit limits. But they argue that they are working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address the issues. The federal agency issued a to require the company to address its violations, but the EPA hasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t given final approval to ChemoursÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ plan.
In May, the EPA was an updated plan the company submitted in April.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe are disappointed in the courtÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s ruling, strongly disagree with its characterizations, and plan to appeal the decision,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Chemours spokesperson Jess Loizeaux wrote in an email.
Loizeaux said that Washington WorksÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ PFAS discharges have decreased in recent months and the company looks to ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œmaintain this compliance as we continue to implement abatement actions and take other steps at the plant.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The West Virginia Rivers Coalition applauded GoodwinÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s order in a news release.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThis is a victory for public health and the Ohio River,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Autumn Crowe, the coalitionÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s deputy director, said in the release. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe Court recognized what communities have known for years: Chemours has been polluting our water and ignoring its legal obligations.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe present circumstance is that individuals who live on and engage with the Ohio River face a terrible choice: abstain from using or drinking water that comes from the Ohio River or subject themselves to the adverse health effects associated with toxic pollutants,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Goodwin wrote. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThis choice violates the law.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
This story was originally published by Mountain State Spotlight. Get stories like this delivered to your email inbox once a week; sign up for the free newsletter at .
