North Carolina communities fight for clean drinking water

North Carolina has some of the highest levels of PFAS contamination in the country. This is, in large part, due to the negligent actions of a single polluter: Chemours. That is why, in February 2020, CEH’s North Carolina office partnered with Clean Cape Fear, North Carolina Conservation Network, Participant Media, and actor Mark Ruffalo to organize the two-day Why We Fight tour to raise the visibility of communities harmed by PFAS chemicals. Through film screenings and meetings with community members, advocates, and state and local decision makers, we called for swift action to address the contamination crisis in the state. CEH also teamed up with North Carolina Black Alliance to charter a bus which brought NC residents to the first day of the event in Wilmington to ensure that people in affected communities could participate and share their perspectives. Through the awareness and momentum generated by the event, we mobilized 67 NGO partners to support our petition to the EPA to hold Chemours accountable in providing the chemical testing and health assessment that North Carolinians deserve.