The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission announced on March 10 that it will hold three public hearings to gather comments on proposed rules for monitoring and minimizing 1,4-dioxane in wastewater discharged into the state’s surface waters. The comment period for these proposals begins March 16.
The hearings are significant because 1,4-dioxane is considered a likely cancer-causing substance. The commission seeks input from the public as it considers new regulations aimed at reducing the presence of this chemical in water sources.
The first hearing is scheduled for April 9 at the Catawba County St. Stephens Branch Library in Hickory. The second will take place April 14 at Fayetteville Technology Community College, and the third is set for May 12 at Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown. Each hearing will begin at 6 p.m., with sign-in and speaker registration starting an hour earlier.
Written comments can also be submitted by email or mail from March 16 through June 15. Comments should be sent to publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with the subject heading “1,4-dioxane minimization,” or mailed to Bridget Shelton at the Department of Environmental Quality’s Planning Section in Raleigh.
The proposed rules would require certain industrial dischargers and publicly owned wastewater treatment plants to monitor for the presence of 1,4-dioxane if they fall within specific industry classifications. Facilities that detect the chemical would need to develop plans to minimize its discharge into surface waters. The commission is also seeking feedback on whether a screening threshold above one microgram per liter should trigger ongoing monitoring and whether all industrial dischargers should be included under these rules.
Copies of the proposed rules are available online for review. According to officials, speaking time during hearings may be limited based on attendance, but written remarks will be accepted at each event. The program is not sponsored or endorsed by Catawba County Library or Catawba County Government.
