The Cape Fear River Basin is the source of drinking water for 1.5 million North Carolina residents. It is also where three municipal governments — Asheboro, Greensboro and Reidsville — are legally dumping dangerous levels of 1,4-dioxane, a colorless industrial solvent linked to cancer.
But on the eve of an anticipated federal decision that could curtail how much of the chemical can be unloaded into the waterway, Asheboro officials made a request: They asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow the public to voice its opinion on the matter.
That will buy the three cities some time while the EPA decides what to do.
Dioxane spikes in Asheboro
It’s the latest ripple in a long, drawn out controversy and another chapter of the all-too-familiar story of commerce being at odds with conservation…