“Poison in Our Backyard”: North Carolina Residents Sue County Over Landfill Contamination
Viv Tolson Wayne rang the dinner bell on her front porch in St. Pauls, North Carolina, calling her sorority sisters to gather on the lawn in protest. The 75-year-old’s message was clear: the community would no longer silently suffer the consequences of environmental injustice. At the heart of their crusade is the Robeson County Landfill, whose toxic leachate seeps into the nearby drinking water, poisoning the very source of life for residents like Tolson Wayne.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, accuses the county of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which governs the treatment, storage, and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. The county’s alleged negligence has led to the leaching of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, a class of forever chemicals linked to an increased risk of cancer, thyroid disease, reproductive problems, and developmental delays in children. The contamination has been ongoing since at least 2023, with PFAS levels in the landfill’s leachate far exceeding state averages.
The Robeson County Board of Commissioners is currently seeking to expand the 537-acre landfill, adding 35 acres to the site, despite community concerns. Commissioners delayed voting on the expansion last year, only to proceed with the plan, leaving residents like Tolson Wayne to wonder if their voices will be heard. “I believe that the county is beginning to wake up, because we are not going to stop talking about it,” Tolson Wayne told the Border Belt Independent.
The stakes are high, as the lawsuit alleges that the county’s actions pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to health or the environment. The contamination is spreading through the Rocco Water Treatment Plant, which draws water from wells as close as 2,089 feet from the landfill. Testing by the Southern Environmental Law Center revealed the highest level of PFAS found in finished drinking water from any treatment plant in North Carolina, with some households containing almost 25 parts per trillion of GenX, a type of PFAS linked to developmental delays and reproductive problems.
The presence of GenX in the water supply is particularly concerning, as it is emitted by the Chemours’ Fayetteville Works plant, nine miles northeast of St. Pauls. The plant’s stacks release the compound into the air, which then mixes with rain and moisture, contaminating groundwater and private drinking water wells in the area. Chemours has offered alternative water supplies to households with PFAS levels above thresholds, but the issue remains a pressing concern for residents like Tolson Wayne.
“We just want clean water,” Tolson Wayne said, her words echoing the sentiment of the community. The lawsuit’s outcome will be closely watched, as it sets a precedent for environmental justice in North Carolina. As the case unfolds, residents will continue to demand accountability from their county officials, driven by a determination to protect their health, their water, and their way of life.
The implications of this lawsuit extend beyond the borders of Robeson County, as it highlights the need for comprehensive regulation and enforcement of environmental laws. The case will also shed light on the consequences of PFAS contamination and the impact on vulnerable populations. As the court considers the merits of the lawsuit, one thing is clear: the people of St. Pauls will no longer be silenced, and their voices will be heard.
What happens next will be crucial in determining the future of the Robeson County Landfill and the health of its residents. The court’s decision will set the stage for a broader conversation about environmental justice and the responsibility of local governments to protect their citizens. As Tolson Wayne’s words suggest, the battle for clean water is far from over, and the community will continue to push for a safer, healthier environment for generations to come.
In the weeks and months ahead, Veridus will continue to monitor the case and provide updates on the lawsuit’s progress. We will also delve deeper into the impact of PFAS contamination on vulnerable communities and the need for comprehensive regulation and enforcement of environmental laws. Stay tuned for more on this developing story.