From August 26, 2022 post
Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) issued the following statement after EPA announced they are proposing to designate two of the most widely used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as “Superfund.” This rulemaking would increase transparency around releases of these harmful chemicals and help to hold polluters accountable for cleaning up their contamination.
“Nothing is more critical to the health of our communities than ensuring the safety of our water. Today’s announcement from EPA is a welcome and long-overdue step that will ensure polluters are held accountable for the contamination they cause in our communities,” said Congressman Pappas. “However we know that many more categories of PFAS chemicals pose dangers to our communities. It’s time we finally act to set real limits on industrial PFAS discharges and provide our communities with the resources they need to clean up their water, and I’ll keep pushing to pass my Clean Water Standards for PFAS legislation until we can be sure no polluter has license to contaminate our water.”
In May, Pappas reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Clean Water Standards for PFAS 2.0 Act alongside U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), which would further regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by setting deadlines for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop water quality criteria and limits on industrial PFAS discharges into water and to water treatment plants.
Pappas introduced a previous version of this legislation last year which was praised by New Hampshire advocates. Last summer, the House voted to pass the PFAS Action Act of 2021, a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to limit the impacts of PFAS contamination on our communities and our environment which contained provisions introduced by Pappas based on his Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act.
The bill includes nine priority industry categories to further expand on current EPA standards. These priority industry categories include: Organic Chemicals, Plastics and Synthetic Fibers (OCPSF); pulp, paper, and paperboard; textile mills; electroplating; metal finishing; leather tanning and finishing; paint formulating; electrical and electrical components; and plastics molding and forming.
The bill would also authorize $200 million per year in grants to assist Publicly Owned Treatment Works with program implementation, which would be appropriated through Fiscal Years 2022-2026.
Pappas secured funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address contamination caused by PFAS and other emerging contaminants in small and disadvantaged communities.
Issues: Energy & Environment Health Care
Original source can be found here.
