Navassa deals with GenX concerns as Superfund clean-up moves forward


NAVASSA, NC (WWAY) — Contamination is nothing new for the town of Navassa. The EPA is still working to clean up a Superfund site there.

“It makes a concern, but you know you have to trust our system we’re operating on that is making sure we have the best water that’s possible,” Navassa Councilman Ernest Mooring Jr. said.

The town of Navassa is a Superfund site because of the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation, a wood treating plant that once contaminated workers.

It was operated from 1936 until 1980, and the EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List back in 2010.

The EPA is still working on cleaning up the site. It is not currently a threat to those living close by.

“The water is always going to be a subject because of our surroundings and what’s been here for the past years, you know, cause water we all know is liquid, if there’s a crack it’s gonna go through it,” Mooring said.

Now, GenX is posing a potential threat to Navassa like many other towns in Brunswick, Pender and New Hanover counties that pull their water from the Cape Fear River.

The only difference is Navassa has been through something like this before.

“We are on alert, you know our sensitivity is more sensitive then most people because of the situation that is going on now,” Mooring said.

Navassa Mayor Eulis Willis just hopes more information about GenX becomes available quickly.

“The sooner we know we got an issue or a problem the better off we will be. I hope that the resolution to this problem happens sooner than later,” Willis said.

The EPA, NC Department of Environmental Quality and the Multistate Trust will give an update on the Navassa Superfund site Tuesday. There are three public availability sessions, where you can talk one-on-one with experts. Those sessions are scheduled for 9-11 a.m., 1-3 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. A public meeting will be held 6-8 p.m. All the sessions and the meeting are at the Navassa Community Center at 338 Main Street.

Categories: Brunswick, Local

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