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Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
EPA weakens drinking water standards with latest repeal on regulations: 'This isn't a win for American public health'
The Environmental Protection Agency announced another regulatory repeal on Wednesday, this time targeting drinking water protections implemented last year. In April 2024, the Biden administration announced a "first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard" aimed at limiting Americans' exposure to PFAS, which are also known as "forever chemicals." In a press release issued at the time, the EPA said the "science is clear" on serious health risks posed by PFAS. The EPA stated that, as written, the rule limiting PFAS contamination in drinking water would "reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses." On Nov. 14, the EPA issued a second press release, detailing massive investments to address PFAS contamination in drinking water and the "unprecedented progress" achieved in the first few months during which the rule was in effect. On Wednesday, The Washington Post was first to report the latest development — President Donald Trump's administration disclosed new "plans to rescind and reconsider limits on four 'forever chemicals,'" just over a year after those limits were implemented. The outlet indicated the EPA planned to strike specific "regulations covering PFHxS, PFNA, GenX and PFBS," with no plans to issue any replacement rules until spring 2026. North Carolina resident Emily Donovan lives in a part of the state impacted by GenX-contaminated water, and she spoke to the Post about the EPA's reversal on "forever chemicals." Donovan said the EPA's decision to "rescind and reconsider GenX" represented a "victory for chemical companies" forced to act under the previous rule. "This isn't a win for American public health," she said of the plan. The EPA will keep standards set in the 2024 rule for two common types of PFAS, known as PFOA and PFOS, at 4 parts per trillion, which the Associated Press called "effectively the lowest level at which they can be reliably detected." That said, the EPA decided to give companies until 2031 to meet the new standards, instead of the previous administration's 2029 target. In discussions with oil companies on the campaign trail in May 2024, Trump "vowed to reverse dozens" of Biden-era climate policies in exchange for a $1 billion commitment to his re-election campaign. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In March, new EPA chief Lee Zeldin moved to seize a staggering $20 billion in funds appropriated by Congress to support clean energy projects. Around the same time, Trump claimed he instructed Zeldin to begin scaling back efficiency standards on household appliances like showers, toilets, and LED light bulbs. Our regulatory framework as it pertains to the environment is a patchwork of federal and state laws protecting Americans from contaminated water, dirty energy, and irresponsible corporate stewardship. As Trump's campaign pledge to oil companies illustrates, corporations can be far too willing to dispense with environmental regulations if they deem cleaning up after themselves too burdensome — which is precisely why such rules are imperative for a cleaner, more sustainable future. As the Post pointed out, 190 bills were introduced in 35 states in 2025, aimed at combating PFAS contamination at the state and local level as well, so the effort to combat the problem is not limited to the federal level. While it's not an immediate solution for the pressing issue of clean water, voting for pro-environment candidates and policies is one of the best ways to ensure crucial environmental regulations are less likely to be rescinded. It also helps to stay connected through newsletters like TCD's and the Vital Signs newsletter from the Environmental Defense Fund. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Engadget
15-05-2025
- Health
- Engadget
The EPA is rolling back Biden-era clean water rules
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revealed that it's making some big changes to the first nationwide drinking water standard set by the Biden administration. Last year, the agency had finalized the standard, which aims to regulate the presence of "forever chemicals" called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water across the country. There are thousands of different types of PFAS, but the rules specifically set limits for five: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA. Now, the agency has revealed that it was only going to keep the Biden-era nationwide limits for PFOA and PFOS. Exposure to forever chemicals has been linked to a variety of health issues, including cancer, liver damage and asthma. Under the rules set by the US government last year, the maximum levels of PFOA and PFOS in drinking water should be 4 parts per trillion only. PFNA, PFHxS and HFPO-DA (also known as GenX chemicals) were supposed to have a max limit of 10 parts per trillion. However, the agency is rescinding the regulations for those last three chemicals. To be fair, PFOA and PFOS are the two most common types of PFAS. The agency said that its "actions are designed to reduce the burden on drinking water systems and the cost of water bills" while still "continuing to protect public health." In addition to rescinding the limits for three out of the five forever chemicals, the EPA said it also intends to extend water utilities' compliance deadline from 2029 to 2031 in order to give them more time to develop a plan that would allow them to meet the standard. This extension "will support water systems across the country, including small systems in rural communities, as they work to address these contaminants," said EPA Administrator Zeldin.
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.
14-05-2025
- Health
What the EPA's partial rollback of the 'forever chemical' drinking water rule means
On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to weaken limits on some harmful 'forever chemicals' in drinking water roughly a year after the Biden administration finalized the first-ever national standards. The Biden administration said last year the rules could reduce PFAS exposure for millions of people. It was part of a broader push by officials then to address drinking water quality by writing rules to require the removal of toxic lead pipes and, after years of activist concern, address the threat of forever chemicals. President Donald Trump has sought fewer environmental rules and more oil and gas development. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has carried out that agenda by announcing massive regulatory rollbacks. Now, we know the EPA plans to rescind limits for certain PFAS and lengthen deadlines for two of the most common types. Here are some of the essential things to know about PFAS chemicals and what the EPA decided to do: PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that have been around for decades and have now spread into the nation's air, water and soil. They were manufactured by companies such as 3M, Chemours and others because they were incredibly useful. They helped eggs slide across nonstick frying pans, ensured that firefighting foam suffocates flames and helped clothes withstand the rain and keep people dry. The chemicals resist breaking down, however, which means they stay around in the environment. Environmental activists say that PFAS manufacturers knew about the health harms of PFAS long before they were made public. The same attributes that make the chemicals so valuable – resistance to breakdown – make them hazardous to people. PFAS accumulates in the body, which is why the Biden administration set limits for two common types, often called PFOA and PFOS, at 4 parts per trillion that are phased out of manufacturing but still present in the environment. There is a wide range of health harms now associated with exposure to certain PFAS. Cases of kidney disease, low-birth weight and high cholesterol in addition to certain cancers can be prevented by removing PFAS from water, according to the EPA. The guidance on PFOA and PFOS has changed dramatically in recent years as scientific understanding has advanced. The EPA in 2016, for example, said the combined amount of the two substances should not exceed 70 parts per trillion. The Biden administration later said no amount is safe. The EPA plans to scrap limits on three types of PFAS, some of which are less well known. They include GenX substances commonly found in North Carolina as well as substances called PFHxS and PFNA. There is also a limit on a mixture of PFAS, which the agency is also planning to rescind. It appears few utilities will be impacted by the withdrawal of limits for these types of PFAS. So far, sampling has found nearly 12% of U.S. water utilities are above the Biden administration's limits. But most utilities face problems with PFOA or PFOS. For the two commonly found types, PFOA and PFOS, the EPA will keep the current limits in place but give utilities two more years — until 2031 — to meet them. Some environmental groups argue that the EPA can't legally weaken the regulations. The Safe Water Drinking Act gives the EPA authority to limit water contaminants, and it includes a provision meant to prevent new rules from being looser than previous ones. 'The law is very clear that the EPA can't repeal or weaken the drinking water standard,' said Erik Olson, a senior strategist at the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council. Environmental activists have generally slammed the EPA for not keeping the Biden-era rules in place, saying it will worsen public health. Industry had mixed reactions. The American Chemistry Council questioned the Biden administration's underlying science that supported the tight rules and said the Trump administration had considered the concerns about cost and the underlying science. 'However, EPA's actions only partially address this issue, and more is needed to prevent significant impacts on local communities and other unintended consequences,' the industry group said. Leaders of two major utility industry groups, the American Water Works Association and Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, said they supported the EPA's decision to rescind a novel approach to limit a mix of chemicals. But they also said the changes do not substantially reduce the cost of the PFAS rule. Some utilities wanted a higher limit on PFOA and PFOS, according to Mark White, drinking water leader at the engineering firm CDM Smith. They did, however, get an extension. 'This gives water pros more time to deal with the ones we know are bad, and we are going to need more time. Some utilities are just finding out now where they stand,' said Mike McGill, president of WaterPIO, a water industry communications firm. ___
Newsweek
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
EPA Rules on Drinking Water Contamination: What It Means for Utility Bills
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday said it plans to rescind some drinking water regulations and push compliance to 2031 for public water systems in regard to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, a move that could delay water bill rate hikes proposed by municipalities in multiple states. Newsweek reached out to the EPA by email for comment. Why It Matters PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals found in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, including nonstick cookware, firefighting foams, and water-repellent fabrics. They are dubbed "forever chemicals" because they do not easily degrade in nature or the human body, accumulating over time and posing health risks including cancer, liver damage, and developmental effects in infants. The Biden-era rule had set enforceable limits for six PFAS, requiring utilities to test for and reduce them by 2029. Under the new rule announced by the EPA, that deadline is pushed to 2031 for two of the most well-known PFAS, PFOA and PFOS. The same announcement said the EPA plans to rescind the requirements for four other PFAS: PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and PFBS. A stock photo of drinking water from the tap. A stock photo of drinking water from the tap. show999/Getty What To Know After the Biden-era rule was announced, municipalities around the nation took a closer look at their water treatment process, with some proposing significant rate hikes to allow for new nanofiltration systems to reduce the PFAS levels in the water supply. For example, officials in Broward County, Florida, were considering two new nanofiltration systems for their water treatment plants, which could cost as much as $500 million and possibly cause residents' water bills to triple. Under the new rule, some water bill rate increases might be delayed, the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) Deputy CEO Vern Steel told Newsweek. "It is possible that some rate hikes will be delayed as water systems will have more time to comply with the revised rule," Steel said. "The additional time will also allow new treatment technologies to come online, which are likely to be more affordable and effective." Steel added: "However, small water systems impacted by PFAS are highly motivated to remove these contaminants as quickly as possible, as their staff and leaders all drink the same water as the rest of their customers." While the new rule could delay water bill hikes, some see it as concerning. Some states have already started making an effort to preserve the Biden-era ruling. For example, earlier this year, California Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat, proposed a bill that would maintain or strengthen current federal limits for "forever chemicals" in drinking water, even if the Trump administration repealed the prior EPA ruling. What People Are Saying EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in an EPA press release: "The work to protect Americans from PFAS in drinking water started under the first Trump Administration and will continue under my leadership. We are on a path to uphold the agency's nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water. At the same time, we will work to provide common-sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance. This 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." Association of State Drinking Water Administrators Executive Director Alan Roberson said in the press release: "ASDWA supports EPA's proposed approach to the PFAS regulation to extend the compliance date for systems by an additional two years. With the current compliance date of 2029, states and water systems are struggling with the timeframes to complete the pilot testing, development of construction plans, and building the necessary treatment improvements. EPA's proposed extension of the compliance date and increased technical assistance will address the number of systems that would be out of compliance in 2029 due to not being able complete all of these tasks on time." Gabriel said in a report by The Hill: "Californians shouldn't have to worry that their drinking water has been contaminated by toxic forever chemicals that are linked to deadly cancers and other serious health harms. Unfortunately, we have seen recently efforts by corporate polluters to challenge the federal standards. They're trying to weaken and roll back these protections that are so essential for our communities." What Happens Next The EPA will issue a new proposed rule in the fall and aims to finalize it by spring 2026. The agency also announced a PFAS outreach campaign to "establish a federal exemption framework, and initiate enhanced outreach to water systems, especially in rural and small communities," according to the press release.
