Letter to the Honorable Andrew R. Wheeler, Adminstrator of the Environmental Protection Agency - Safeguard Public Health

Letter

Dear Acting Administrator Wheeler,

I am encouraged by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Leadership Summit on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) held in May of this year and the agency's continued commitment to review and address this range of substances, specifically PFOA and PFOS. I write today to urge the EPA to expedite the release of its PFAS Management Plan, hazardous substance designation, and regulatory determination process for PFOA and PFOS.

I am concerned there is a substantial likelihood that these contaminants will occur in public water systems at levels of public health concerns across the country. The Air Force has identified 200 installations where PFOA and PFOS may have been released. PFOA and PFOS are components of legacy Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) -- a firefighting agent the Air Force began using in the 1970s to extinguish petroleum fires. Airmen used this firefighting agent for training and emergency response incidents for decades introducing PFOA and PFOS into the soil and groundwater on bases and in surrounding areas. In addition to military use, PFOA and PFOS were also extensively used in commercial and household products for decades. Landfills and manufacturing locations could also be potential pathways of exposure for these contaminants. Considering the widespread use of these chemicals, the likelihood that these contaminants have entered public water systems is tremendously high.

As you are aware, EPA reports show serious health implications of PFOA and PFOS exposure including, high cholesterol, increased liver enzymes, decreased vaccination response, thyroid disorders, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, cancers, and reproductive and developmental complications. EPA's hazardous substance designation and regulation of these contaminants present a meaningful opportunity to reduce health risk for residents served by public water systems. That is why I urge the EPA to expedite its hazardous substance designation and regulatory determination process for PFOA and PFOS to help safeguard our communities.

I appreciate your careful attention to this request, please do not hesitate to call on my office if I can be of assistance on this matter. I stand willing to work with you on this and other issues and look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

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