The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will host a public hearing on October 22 to address its specific objection to a proposed wastewater discharge permit for the City of Asheboro’s treatment facility.

At issue is a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit originally issued in 2024 by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) after Asheboro submitted an application in 2023. The controversy centers around the inclusion of a limit on 1,4-dioxane—a likely human carcinogen used in industrial solvents and found in trace amounts in some water systems.

The City of Asheboro legally challenged NC DEQ’s authority to impose the 1,4-dioxane limit, and a state administrative judge ultimately voided that provision. In response, the EPA issued a Specific Objection Letter in support of NC DEQ’s original permit terms and opened the matter to public feedback. The City of Asheboro then formally requested a public hearing, which the EPA has now scheduled.

The hearing will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. ET at Randolph Community College’s JB and Claire Davis Corporate Training Center, located at 413 Industrial Park Avenue in Asheboro. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

Members of the public who wish to speak at the event must register at least 72 hours in advance. Each speaker will be limited to three minutes. EPA officials and a neutral facilitator will begin the session with brief presentations. The hearing may conclude 15 minutes after the last pre-registered speaker, if no additional commenters are present.

Virtual attendance is available through registration; however, those participating remotely will not be allowed to offer oral comments during the hearing. Written submissions will be accepted until the public comment period closes on October 31, 2025.

For more information or to register, contact Region 4 Press at region4press@epa.gov or call 404-562-8400