Latest news with #PFASOUT
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
EPA to rollback 'forever chemical' rule, extend timelines
Washington: The EPA will rescind much of the Biden administration's first nationwide drinking water standard aimed at protecting people from toxic " forever chemicals " known as PFAS found in many household items, but will maintain current limits on two of these chemicals, it announced on Wednesday. Dubbed "forever chemicals" because they do not easily break down in the human body or environment, PFAS are found in hundreds of consumer and commercial products, including non-stick pans, cosmetics, firefighting foams and stain-resistant clothing. The rule finalized last year by the EPA under the Biden administration had set limits for five individual PFAS chemicals: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA. It gave all public water systems three years to complete monitoring for these chemicals and required them to inform the public of the level of PFAS measured in their drinking water. In cases where PFAS chemicals are found at levels that exceed the standards, the water systems were required to install systems to reduce PFAS in their drinking water by 2029. Under the new proposal under President Donald Trump, the EPA would allow drinking water systems more time to develop plans for addressing PFOA and PFOS and extend the compliance date for those two PFAS chemicals to 2031. It would also rescind the regulations and reconsider the regulatory determinations for the other three PFAS chemicals. EPA plans to issue a proposed rule this fall and finalize it by spring 2026. "This will support water systems across the country, including small systems in rural communities, as they work to address these contaminants," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement. "EPA will also continue to use its regulatory and enforcement tools to hold polluters accountable." Separately, the state of New Jersey on Tuesday announced what it called the largest statewide PFAS settlement of $450 million in the state's history with chemicals producer 3M. The EPA also announced on Wednesday it will launch a campaign called PFAS OUT to connect with every public water utility known to need capital improvements to address PFAS in their system.
Epoch Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
EPA Will Uphold Limits on 2 ‘Forever Chemicals' While Rescinding Rules on Others
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 14 that it will keep current drinking water regulations on two 'forever chemicals,' but will roll back rules on several others. A rule Where PFAS chemicals exceed the standards, the water systems are required to install systems to reduce PFAS in their drinking water by 2029. PFAS are synthetic chemicals that don't easily break down in the human body or in the environment, and they've been linked to a range of health issues such as liver problems, certain forms of cancer, fertility issues, and more. The products are often used in non-stick pans, firefighting products, cleaning products, water-resistant fabrics, and other consumer items. The new proposal under the Trump administration, the EPA It would also rescind the regulations and reconsider the regulatory determinations for the other PFAS chemicals, according to the agency, which added that it is planning to issue a proposed rule on the chemicals in the fall of 2025 and finalize it by next spring. Related Stories 5/12/2025 5/8/2025 'We are on a path to uphold the agency's nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water,' EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement. 'At the same time, we will work to provide common-sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance.' The new plan, he added, 'will support water systems across the country, including small systems in rural communities, as they work to address these contaminants. EPA will also continue to use its regulatory and enforcement tools to hold polluters accountable.' The EPA has Multiple water utility companies, as well as the American Water Works Association and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, 'EPA did not use the best available data and appropriate processes in developing the PFAS regulation,' the organizations said at the time. Also in Wednesday's announcement, the EPA said it will launch a campaign called PFAS OUT to connect with certain public water utilities to address the chemicals in drinking water systems. Separately, New Jersey officials this week Reuters contributed to this report.
