Trahan Applauds EPA Action on PFAS

Trahan Applauds EPA Action on PFAS

Washington

Lowell, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee,applauded a new proposed rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to halt the production of an estimated 300 per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals without prior EPA approval. Without this proposed rule, companies could resume the use of these PFAS chemicals without notifying the EPA. The action follows the direction of EPA’s Strategic Roadmap, which Trahan has also supported.

“This is great news for communities here in Massachusetts and across our nation that have been impacted by PFAS contaminations in their drinking water. By ending the wild west approach to PFAS chemical manufacturing, we can take necessary steps to clean up contaminated water sources and prevent future contaminations as well,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “I applaud the Biden administration and EPA officials for recognizing the urgency in addressing these ‘forever chemicals.’ Congress must act swiftly to pass the PFAS Action Act to bolster this new rule with the updated laws we need to protect families from these dangerous pollutants.”

PFAS chemicals are manmade and have been used in common products such as firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, water resistant clothing, cleaning products, paints and sealants, personal care products, and cosmetics. Manufacturers and distributors of products containing PFAS have known for decades about the dangers the chemicals pose to people’s health but done little about it. In fact, despite warnings, some companies were dumping so much PFAS into waterways that they couldn’t keep track of the exact amount. These “forever chemicals” have been discovered in the drinking water of more than 2,000 communities nationwide, including in 50 public water sources  reported in Massachusetts this year alone. 

“This proposal is part of EPA’s comprehensive strategy to stop PFAS from entering our air, land and water and harming our health and the planet,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “The rule would put needed protections in place where none currently exist to ensure that EPA can slam the door shut on all unsafe uses of these 300 PFAS.”

Trahan has remained an unwavering advocate for bold action on PFAS and championed the PFAS Action Act of 2021 through the Energy and Commerce Committee and to House passage. The legislation also garnered the support of the Biden-Harris administration. 

The PFAS Action Act would:

• Stem the flow of PFAS contamination into the environment by requiring cleanup of sites contaminated with PFOA and PFOS – two of the most hazardous PFAS chemicals – as well as setting air emission limits, prohibiting unsafe incineration of PFAS, and limiting the introduction of new PFAS chemicals into commerce;


• Identify health risks by requiring comprehensive health testing for all PFAS, reporting of PFAS releases, and monitoring for PFAS in drinking water;


• Inform communities of PFAS risks by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a risk-communication strategy and establish a website with information on testing of household well water;


• Limit human exposure to PFAS by requiring a drinking water standard for PFAS that protects public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations like pregnant women, infants, and children, and holding polluters accountable;


• Provide grants to impacted water systems, create a voluntary label for cookware that is PFAS free, provide guidance for first responders to limit their exposures, and require effluent limitations and pretreatment standards for PFAS introduction or discharge.

She has also secured federal funding for local efforts to clean up local PFAS contaminations in Hudson and Littleton.