Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02), a founding member of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force, released the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcing its Comprehensive Nationwide PFAS Action Plan:
“Today’s announcement by the EPA is an important first step in putting together a comprehensive approach to protecting drinking water, enhancing PFAS research, and contamination clean up,” said Congressman Huizenga. “Officials at the federal, state, and local level must work together in a transparent manner to monitor PFAS concerns and share their findings with members of the public. Americans deserve to know the truth and the full picture about the health risks as well as the sources of PFAS.”
“There are multiple communities across West Michigan and throughout Michigan that are currently being impacted by PFAS. While Michigan has been a leader in testing and monitoring PFAS contamination, I have concerns that these findings are merely the tip of the iceberg for our nation. Even though the federal government has issued guidance of 70 parts per trillion, there is no qualified federal standard or defined maximum contaminant level for PFAS. I believe a federal standard should be created however this process needs to be determined by public health officials and scientists, not politicians. I encourage the EPA to continue working to develop federally enforceable standards with urgency.”
The EPA’s Action Plan sets forward short, middle, and long-term action items including:
Drinking water: EPA is moving forward with the maximum contaminant level (MCL) process outlined in the Safe Drinking Water Act for PFOA and PFOS—two of the most well-known and prevalent PFAS chemicals. By the end of this year, EPA will propose a regulatory determination, which is the next step in the Safe Drinking Water Act process for establishing an MCL.
Clean up: EPA has already begun the regulatory development process for listing PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances and will issue interim groundwater cleanup recommendations for sites contaminated with PFOA and PFOS. This important work will provide additional tools to help states and communities address existing contamination and enhance the ability to hold responsible parties accountable.
Enforcement: EPA will use available enforcement tools to address PFAS exposure in the environment and assist states in enforcement activities.
Monitoring: EPA will propose to include PFAS in nationwide drinking water monitoring under the next Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Program. The agency will also consider PFAS chemicals for listing in the Toxics Release Inventory to help the agency identify where these chemicals are being released.
Research: EPA will develop new analytical methods so that more PFAS chemicals can be detected in drinking water, in soil, and in groundwater. These efforts will improve our ability to monitor and assess potential risks. EPA’s research efforts also include developing new technologies and treatment options to remove PFAS from drinking water at contaminated sites.
Risk Communications: EPA will work across the agency—and the federal government—to develop a PFAS risk communication toolbox that includes materials that states, tribes, and local partners can use to effectively communicate with the public.
Together, these efforts will help EPA and its partners identify and better understand PFAS contaminants generally, clean up current PFAS contamination, prevent future contamination, and effectively communicate risk with the public. To implement the Action Plan, EPA will continue to work in close coordination with multiple entities, including other federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, water utilities, industry, and the public.
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