6/30/21

NACWA Continues Advocacy Work Around PFAS Concerns

On June 14th, the National Association of clean water agencies penned a letter to the US Environmental Protection Agency's new Council on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).  The recommendations, which are detailed in the letter, include increased federal research on PFAS toxicity/risk, continue and advance PFAS source reduction using the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Toxic Release Inventory regulations, accelerate development of CWA analytical methods and EPA’s efforts to complete a Biosolids Risk Assessment,  protect “Passive Receivers” against CERCLA Liability, and take an aggressive risk management approach using the Toxics Substances Control Act.  

On the legislative side, NACWA continues to track PFAS-related legislation and educate federal lawmakers about PFAS issues and the concerns of water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) across the country.  Check out this Fact Sheet prepared by NACWA for Water Week: PFAS-Fact-Sheet-2021.pdf (waterweek.us).   The work may be having some impact.  Check out these remarks by Representative David McKinley of West Virginia before the Energy & Commerce Committee in introducing an amendment in the PFAS Action Act to exempt drinking water and wastewater utilities from liability under the CERCLA or Superfund law: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcybHO_xAr8.