EPA will set limits on how much “forever chemicals” manufacturers can discharge into waterways and work to shield entities like sewage treatment plants from liability for the toxic substances, the agency announced Monday.
The announcement offers new clues on Administrator Lee Zeldin’s approach to dealing with the man-made chemicals, which are linked to cancer, kidney failure and other human health issues. It also left open the possibility that the agency will weaken a sweeping Biden-era rule requiring cities and towns to remove the chemicals — also known as PFAS — from drinking water.
“With today’s announcement, we are tackling PFAS from all of EPA’s program offices, advancing research and testing, stopping PFAS from getting into drinking water systems, holding polluters accountable, and providing certainty for passive receivers,” Zeldin said in a news release.
The agency said it would seek to develop more testing methods for PFAS, update its guidance for disposing of the substances and designate an “agency lead” for PFAS issues, who was not named in the announcement.
