Forever chemicals seeping into NC marine base

The EPA still labels Cherry Point "under control," yet 2023 tests show PFAS at 12× legal limit. New report warns 15 U.S. bases pose ongoing health risks as cleanup lags.
Posted 8/1/2025, 10:48:07 PM Updated 8/1/2025, 11:00:07 PM

ROAD BRIDGE BEFORE THE FAIR

OFFERING. ONE MORE ALTERNATIVE

FOR DRIVERS IN THE AREA.

THERE'S A NEW REPORT SAYS TOXIC

FOREVER. CHEMICALS ARE STILL

SEEPING INTO THE DRINKING WATER

NEAR MARINE CORPS AIR STATION.

CHERRY POINT. EVEN THOUGH THE

EPA LIST THAT SITE.

>> AS SAFE FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE,

THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP

ANALYZE WELL TESTED 15 MILITARY

SUPERFUND SITES ACROSS THE

COUNTRY AT CHERRY POINT, A

SAMPLE SHOWED CHEMICALS AT A

LEVEL MORE THAN 12 TIMES.

THE FEDERAL LIMIT. OTHER PFAS

CHEMICALS CAME IN AT ELEVATED

LEVELS, TOO. THE GROUP WARNS

THAT OUTDATED PAPERWORK IS

STALLING. THE CLEANUP.

>> THIS DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE

SUPERFUND STATUS AND THE TEST

RESULTS ON THE GROUND COULD

MEAN THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING

EXPOSED UNNECESSARILY AND THAT

CLEANUP ACTIONS AREN'T GOING TO

HAPPEN. AT THE PACE THEY NEED

TO TO STOP THAT. THIS FROM

HAPPENING.

>> EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE EPA

SAID IT WOULD CONSIDER ROLLING

BACK DRINKING WATER LIMITS FOR

SEVERAL OTHER PFAS CHEMICALS

RAISING CONCERNS THAT BASIS

LIKE CHERRY POINT COULD FACE

EVEN WEAKER CLEANUP

REQUIREMENTS. THE EPA DID NOT

IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO REQUESTS

FOR COMMENT. WE HAVE REPORTED,

OF COURSE, ON PFAS ISSUES

ACROSS OUR STATE FOR A WHILE

NOW, OUR DOCUMENTARY TEAM DID A

DEEP DIVE ON THIS VERY TOPIC.

YOU CAN GO TO THE DOCUMENTARY

SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE AND FIND