Bart Johnsen-Harris
Environment America
WASHINGTON — Five Congressmen introduced a bill this week to combat toxic drinking water pollution from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The “Protect Drinking Water from PFAS Act,” led by U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Dan Kildee (D-MI), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set an overall limit on all PFAS chemicals in drinking water within two years.
Bart Johnsen-Harris, clean water advocate for Environment America, issued the following statement:
“While PFAS chemicals are putting the drinking water of millions of Americans at risk, EPA has failed to set a clear limit to drive cleanup of contaminated water. We commend Congressman Boyle and his colleagues for stepping up to help ensure that our water is clean and safe to drink.
“This bill would jump-start the process of creating an overall limit on PFAS in our drinking water. Research has shown that an approximate “safe” level of exposure to PFAS is as low as one part per trillion. The EPA needs to set a standard that reflects this, and fast.
“To date, the EPA has only promised to set a drinking water standard for two types of PFAS chemicals, and the agency’s timetable even for this step is uncertain. This bill is critical to ensure timely and more comprehensive protection for the drinking water of millions of Americans.
“We can’t continue to allow Americans to drink poisoned water, and it is unconscionable that these toxic chemicals remain largely unregulated. Congress should act quickly to pass the Protect Drinking Water from PFAS Act into law.”