Representative Dan Kildee (D-Michigan), cochair of the Congressional PFAS Task Force, sent a letter on January 29 to the Biden administration outlining actions they should take to address harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The letter, signed by 132 Republican and Democratic members of Congress, includes actions the administration can take to protect communities from PFAS immediately, including creating a nationwide drinking water standard for PFAS and listing PFAS as hazardous substances to clean up the harmful chemicals and requiring the polluters pay for it.
“According to the Environmental Working Group, more than 200 million Americans likely have drinking water and food contaminated with PFAS chemicals,” the letter reads in part. “Nevertheless, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Defense have been slow to address the risks posed by PFAS. There are currently no limits on PFAS releases and uses and no requirement to clean up PFAS contamination.
“To address the growing PFAS pollution crisis, we urge you to take immediate steps to reduce PFAS releases, phase out non-essential uses of PFAS in everyday products, and clean up legacy PFAS pollution,” the letter reads in part.
Kildee and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) also held a virtual press conference on January 29 to relaunch the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan), Fred Upton (R-Michigan), Haley Stevens (D-Michigan), Chris Pappas (D-New Hampshire), and Peter Meijer (R-Michigan) were also in attendance.
“PFAS contamination affects us all. It impacts our environment, our health, our communities, and our economy,” said NGWA CEO Terry S. Morse CAE, CIC. “That is why it deserves nothing less than a fully committed bipartisan effort from Congress and why we applaud the formation of this task force and its members. This is a good day in the fight against PFAS, but it is up to all of us to ensure the goals of this task force are realized.”
Click here to read the letter.
NGWA has long been an industry leader in providing PFAS research, education, and resources to the public and scientific communities. In 2018, NGWA published Groundwater and PFAS: State of Knowledge and Practice, which was one of the first PFAS guidance documents to be released. It can be found at NGWA.org/PFAS, which is a complete resource center about the groundwater contaminants featuring an FAQs document, a top-10 facts sheet, a homeowner checklist, and more.
As in previous years, NGWA is once again hosting an event this year on the topic — the Fate of PFAS: From Groundwater to Tap Water virtual conference will take place June 22-23.