Letter to Sen. Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader and Sen. Charles Schumer, Senate Minority Leader - Kildee, Fitzpatrick Seek Timeline for Drinking Water and Clean up Standards in PFAS Action Plan

Letter

Dear Senator McConnell and Senator Schumer:

We write to you regarding the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be the Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Last week, Mr. Wheeler announced the EPA's PFAS Action Plan. Considering years of inaction by the EPA regarding PFAS, the fact that EPA released a plan to mobilize a comprehensive response to these toxic chemicals was welcome news. We are concerned, however, about the lack of timelines for accomplishing many of the action items in the plan, especially setting a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for two types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and designating them as hazardous substances.

PFAS are a dangerous class of chemicals that are extremely persistent in the environment, break down very slowly in the human body, and are associated with a plethora of adverse health effects, including cancer, high cholesterol, weakened immune system and hypertension during pregnancy.

Two types of PFAS--PFOA and PFOS--are in firefighting foam used to extinguish certain classes of fires. In our districts, this firefighting foam has been used at current and former military bases and has leeched into people's water supply surrounding these facilities. As a result, thousands of our constituents have been drinking and cooking in water contaminated by these toxic chemicals for many years. Protecting their health and ensuring their access to safe, clean drinking water is our highest priority.

While we were pleased to hear that the PFAS Action Plan includes, in addition to a number of other actions, the intention to establish a MCL for PFOA and PFOS and to designate these two PFAS as hazardous substances, the proposed timeline for these actions was unclear. This is not the time to continue to make plans for discussion about how to protect our constituents from these harmful chemicals, this is the time for regulatory action.

As such, prior to his confirmation as Administrator of the EPA, we are respectfully requesting that you ensure Mr. Wheeler's firm commitment to quickly and aggressively regulating these chemicals with a timeline where Congress can hold the EPA accountable. Equivocation and procrastination are unacceptable; the health and well-being of our constituents depends on swift and effective regulatory action.

Source