ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Western North Carolina residents will have the first opportunity to weigh in on proposed statewide rules aimed at monitoring and reducing “forever chemicals” in wastewater during a public hearing scheduled next month in Asheville.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. April 7 at Ferguson Auditorium on the campus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. The session is the first of three hearings planned across the state as regulators consider new rules targeting certain PFAS chemicals discharged into North Carolina’s surface waters.

Sign-in and speaker registration will begin at 5 p.m.

The hearing opens a broader public comment process on the proposed regulations, which would require increased monitoring and potential reduction of three widely known PFAS compounds — PFOS, PFOA and GenX — in wastewater discharges.

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a large group of man-made chemicals used in many industrial and consumer products. Often referred to as “forever chemicals,” they do not easily break down in the environment and can accumulate in people and animals over time.

State officials estimate about 3.5 million North Carolinians drink tap water containing PFAS levels above health-based standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that are scheduled to take effect in the coming years.

The proposed rules would require monitoring of PFOS, PFOA and GenX in wastewater discharged by industrial facilities permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, as well as publicly owned wastewater treatment plants that receive industrial waste through pretreatment programs.

Facilities identified as significant industrial users could also be required to develop minimization plans outlining how they would reduce discharges of the chemicals into rivers and streams.

In addition to feedback on the rule proposals and their regulatory impact analysis, the commission is asking for public input on two specific questions. Regulators are seeking comments on whether a screening threshold should be established above the lowest reporting levels to trigger ongoing monitoring and reduction efforts. They are also asking whether the rule should apply only to industries associated with specific standard industry classification or North American Industry Classification System codes linked to PFAS use.

Two additional public hearings are scheduled later in April: one April 20 in Raleigh and another April 23 in Wilmington.

The public comment period begins March 16 and runs through June 15. Written comments may be submitted by email to publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with the subject line “PFAS minimization,” or by mail to Karen Preston, DEQ-DWR NPDES Permitting Section, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617.

People attending the hearings may also submit written comments or copies of prepared remarks in person. Speaking time may be limited depending on the number of participants.

Details about the proposed rules and supporting documents are available on the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission website.

Public hearing details

• Asheville: 6 p.m. April 7, Ferguson Auditorium, A-B Tech Community College, 19 Tech Drive
• Raleigh: 6 p.m. April 20, Archdale Building Ground Floor Hearing Room, 512 N. Salisbury St.
• Wilmington: 6 p.m. April 23, Wilmington City Hall at Skyline Center, 929 N. Front St.