PFAS Fish Consumption Advisory &
Media on
Chamber of Commerce & PFAS Regulations 

PFAS Fish Consumption Advisory - Cape Fear River:
The advisory is extremely stringent. Considering this is just based on data from ONE fish, this is alarming. Details at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2023/07/13/ncdhhs-recommends-limiting-fish-consumption-middle-and-lower-cape-fear-river-due-contamination#:~:text=The%20North%20Carolina%20Department%20of,fish%20sampled%20from%20that%20area. 

“Cape Fear Business Alliance Supports Bill Making PFAS Manufacturers Liable for Cleanup Costs. Wilmington Chamber Won’t Comment” WHQR
Jonathan Bridges, Cape Fear Business Alliance executive director, in commenting on why the State NC Chamber opposed legislation to make polluters like Chemours pay for PFAS filtration, and why the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce had no comment on the matter – that, ““The chambers have done amazing work, but the state, even the local chamber, they tend to favor big corporations over small businesses. And this is one of those examples of where they put big corporations above small business owners.” Read more at: https://www.whqr.org/local/2024-06-19/cape-fear-business-alliance-supports-bill-making-pfas-manufacturers-liable-for-cleanup-costs-wilmington-chamber-wont-comment

“Ted Davis Pushes PFAS Liability Through Committee Despite NC Chamber Opposition” Port City Daily
“[Representative Ted Davis] pushed a version of the same bill in 2022, opposed by influential lobbying groups including the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce and North Carolina Manufacturers Alliance; both groups include PFAS producing companies Chemours and DuPont as members. The North Carolina Chamber took credit for the bill being “sidelined” in 2022 and 2023.

“’They care more about making money with businesses than they do about the welfare of the people — which includes people who are members of the chamber of commerce,’ [NC Representative Ted] Davis said.

“According to Davis, NC Chamber has been supportive of his pro-business policies in the past. He was clear he would not have supported the bill if he thought it was anti-business. ‘Do you really think a business wants to come to New Hanover County if they know the people that work for them and their families don’t have safe water to drink?’ he asked.

“The national chamber also filed a brief in support of Chemours in the company’s ongoing lawsuit against the EPA to rescind PFAS health advisory levels. It named Chemours parent company, DuPont, as a finalist for its 2020 Citizens Award for its efforts to provide communities with “increased access to clean, safe drinking water.”  Read more at: https://portcitydaily.com/latest-news/2024/06/12/rep-ted-davis-pushes-pfas-liability-bill-through-committee-despite-nc-chamber-opposition/

“Business groups rally against NC effort to make Chemours pay for PFAS clean-up” The News & Observer 
“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” [Rep. Pricey] Harrison said. “I can’t believe this bill isn’t sailing through. This is commonsense legislation that’s going to protect the health of our citizens.” [Rep. Ted] Davis also rebuffed the business community’s contention, arguing that he has been consistently recognized as pro-business by the N.C. Chamber. Chemours, Davis said, is “very, very capable of paying” for the treatment plant upgrades.” Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article262071277.html  

NC Chamber of Commerce publication, “How They Voted: 2021-22 Biennium Review” excerpt:
“House Bill 1095: PFAS Pollution and Polluter Liability
Primary Bill Sponsors: Rep. Davis, Rep. Iler, Rep. Miller, Rep. Reives
Status: Sidelined by NC Chamber opposition (highlight added by Dana Sargent)

The NC Chamber opposed this bill as it would bypass decades of precedent for adding new regulations on job creators, enabling NCDEQ to circumvent the EMC and RRC processes for new regulations. Additionally, it would expand the scope of company liability retroactively, harm North Carolina’s business liability and regulatory predictability climate, and open the door for expansive cost increases on manufacturers and job creators.”

NC Chamber of Commerce publication, “How They Voted: 2023 Biennium Review” excerpt:
“House Bill 864: PFAS Pollution and Polluter Liability
Primary Bill Sponsors: Reps. Davis; Iler
Status: Sidelined by NC Chamber opposition (highlighted added by Dana Sargent)

This bill would harm North Carolina’s liability climate by expanding liability on manufacturers. It would allow the Secretary of The Department of Environmental Quality to bypass the public rule making process and order a business to pay the public water system costs incurred in removing, correcting, or abating any adverse effects upon the water supply when PFAS is present, even when a business is complying with the strict guidelines of their NPDES Permit.”

“Chamber of Commerce Pushes Against DEQs Proposed PFAS Water Standards,” Port City Daily
“On April 22, the North Carolina Chamber sent a letter to DEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser requesting the agency delay its proposed PFAS surface and groundwater standards submitted to the Environmental Management Commission, an appointed body that oversees and creates rules for DEQ . . .

“In the letter, state chamber president Gary Salamido argued…’The businesses in our state, including those in manufacturing, have a proven track record of supporting North Carolina’s economic vitality and doing so responsibly.

‘It is important that we do not hastily pass regulations without fully accounting for both the positive benefits and potential negative impacts proposed rules would have on the state and its business community.’”  Read more at: https://portcitydaily.com/latest-news/2024/05/04/nc-chamber-of-commerce-pushes-against-deqs-proposed-pfas-water-standards/

“At urging of NC Chamber, some environmental commission members want to delay PFAS rules,” NC Newsline:
“NC State Chamber of Commerce President Gary] Salamido did not answer questions from Newsline, but Kate Payne, vice president of communications for the Chamber, provided a statement that read, in part: “The NC Chamber has a transparent and open process to engage government when advocating for certainty and predictability for North Carolina’s business community, particularly on the regulatory front. The business community is made up of the people who live in communities across our state, these people, and these businesses, pay the bills and enjoy the clean air and water with their families. We all want a healthy environment that balances economic growth.

“Several current or historical dischargers of PFAS, including DuPont, International Paper and GFL, which operates dozens of landfills in the state, belong to the NC Chamber, the state’s largest broad-based business advocacy organization. 

“However, some of its members also bear the brunt of the contamination. UNC-Wilmington, among those in the Lower Cape Fear River Basin whose water supply was contaminated, is also a Chamber member.

“UNC Wilmington spokesperson Andrea Weaver told Newsline it “was not contacted by the Chamber” about the letter to environmental officials. We don’t have further comments.” Read more at: https://ncnewsline.com/2024/05/07/at-urging-of-nc-chamber-some-environmental-commission-members-want-to-delay-pfas-rules/


NC Chamber of Commerce Letter to then NC DEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser in which they say,
“On behalf of the business community, we urge NC DEQ and the NC Environmental Management Commission to delay any action until we receive appropriate studies and have greater clarity on the benefits and cost of regulation.” Letter at: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:cee018e2-b8b8-4237-be52-550794cd440e

(NC DEQ Sec. Biser response: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:0442520f-c45a-46d9-a708-07557c54881b)

Wilmington Chamber of Commerce has not made public whether or not they support or oppose the NC Chamber of Commerce’s lobbying efforts to ‘sideline’ legislation and stall regulations on PFAS. 

The Wilmington Chamber did state the following on a social media post by CFRW:

"The Wilmington Chamber is a separate 501c6 organization that sets our own course and is not bound by any position taken by the NC Chamber."

CFRW responded and thanked them for this information and requested they share their position and said we looked forward to working with them. 

They did not respond.