Statement: New EPA rules will make PFAS polluters pay clean-up costs

Initiative will help with PFAS cleanup at Superfund sites in PA, nationwide

PHILADELPHIA –  Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took far-reaching and critical steps to allow the agency to make polluters pay for the cost of clean-ups of PFAS pollution. EPA took this step by listing two PFAS chemicals–perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)–as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), better known as the Superfund Law.

The designation comes on the heels of the EPA finalizing a landmark rule two weeks ago, setting the first ever federal standards for PFAS in drinking water.

In November 2022, the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and partner groups submitted comments from over 24,000 members urging the EPA to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the federal Superfund law. The EPA has confirmed that PFAS has contaminated at least 180 Superfund sites. Sixteen of these sites are in Pennsylvania, including the Willow Grove Naval Air and Air Reserve Station, where early alarm bells were sounded about the pervasive threat of PFAS in drinking water.

PFAS are a class of thousands of chemicals commonly used to make consumer products water and/or fire resistant, durable, or slippery. They have been nicknamed ‘forever chemicals’ because they resist breaking down in the environment. PFAS have been found in the drinking water of millions of Americans. PFAS exposure has been linked to a wide range of serious health problems including kidney and liver disease, immune system suppression, birth defects and cancer.

In response Stephanie Wein, Clean Water & Conservation Advocate with the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center released the following statement:

“Listing PFOA and PFOS as toxic under the Superfund law is an important step to help eliminate these pervasive, dangerous chemicals from our lives. For decades, the chemical industry has polluted our communities with these ‘forever chemicals’ and sadly, Pennsylvanians have suffered the consequences.” 

“We need our state and national leaders to use every tool in the box to protect our families from exposure to PFAS. That means phasing out their use, stopping their discharge, and holding the chemical industry accountable for the harms they have caused to our health and environment”

“No one should have to worry about whether their well water, groceries, or even clothing is contaminated with toxic chemicals.  Unfortunately that’s the harsh reality for many Pennsylvanians. EPA’s announcement is a critical step toward getting PFAS out of our waterways and making polluters pay. Now, we need to turn off the tap on toxic PFAS everywhere.”