CASTLE HAYNE, N.C. (WECT) – At Honeybird Organic Farm, Ty Jacobus’ greenhouse is overflowing with produce.

However, it will be left to rot because Jacobus says it’s contaminated by forever chemicals, also known as PFAS.

The Department of Environmental Quality found PFAS from chemical company Chemours in well water in New Hanover County. That’s when Jacobus got his well tested.

“The results came back we had contamination, total PFAS levels between 50 and 60 parts per trillion, which is a little over I think 10 to 12 times what the current EPA safe standard is,” Jacobus said.

He says it’s impacted every part of his farm.

Just one egg from his chickens had over 200 times the safe drinking water standard.

“We can’t sell those. There’s no law preventing us from it, but we can’t sell those. It has really hurt our business incredibly,” he said.

So, what’s the solution?

Leaders with the Environmental Management Commission and the Department of Environmental Quality met this week to discuss the regulations for acceptable PFAS levels in the state.

The groundwater committee, which impacts farmers like Jacobus, directed the DEQ to revise their impact analysis.

The water quality committee deferred a motion to vote on the proposed surface water standards until their September meeting.

“I was very disappointed to see that the EMC yet again delayed action in their meeting this week, on surface and groundwater standards,” DEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser said.

“They had everything they needed to take action. This week, we showed up with two sets of rules and two certified fiscal notes. The committee once again, delayed taking action. It just shows, again, that they’re unable or unwilling to understand the science and the health impacts that it causes,” she said.

She says this inaction from the EMC directly impacts farmers like Jacobus, as the water used to grow his crops continues to be contaminated.

“We might be in danger of not even having a crop for this fall or possibly into next year.”

WECT reached out to all 15 commissioners with the Environmental Management Commission for a comment on the meetings this week and has not heard back.

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