On August 26, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed designating the two most common toxic “forever chemicals” – PFOA and PFOS – as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, better known as Superfund. This designation will help the EPA hold polluters accountable and jump-start the cleanup process at sites around the country.
Here’s what leaders from health and environmental advocacy groups and communities around the U.S. say about the significance of this designation.
Rob Bilott, environmental attorney and author, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP: “The EPA’s proposal to designate these two particular ‘forever chemicals’ as ‘hazardous substances’ under the federal Superfund law sends a loud and clear message to the entire world that the United States is finally acknowledging and accepting the now-overwhelming evidence that these manmade poisons present substantial danger to the public health and the environment.”
Bilott added, “It took over two decades to get here, but the scientific facts and truth about the health threat posed by these PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ have finally prevailed over the misinformation campaigns and corporate cover ups designed to mislead the public and delay action. The EPA’s action follows on the heels of the recently released report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine that acknowledged the serious threat these chemicals pose to the health of virtually everyone in this country – and worldwide – even at the levels currently found in the blood of the general population, and a recent study linking millions of deaths to PFAS exposures since 1999.” [Statement]
Mark Ruffalo, activist and actor: “After knowingly poisoning their workers, neighbors and virtually every living being on the planet, PFAS polluters will finally – FINALLY – be held accountable. We have all paid for decades – in the forms of higher care costs and higher drinking water bills – for one of the greatest environmental crimes in history. Now, finally, the polluters must pay. Polluters will inevitably seek to shirk their responsibilities, and some legislators will inevitably act as their lackeys. But today’s historic announcement sends an unmistakable message: They were poisoning us, it must stop, and they must pay.” [Statement]
Geoff Gisler, senior attorney and leader, Southern Environmental Law Center, Clean Water Program: “Today’s action by EPA will help hold polluters accountable for their PFAS contamination, shifts responsibility to industrial sources to clean up PFAS, and follows through on the agency’s earlier commitments. We look forward to this rule being finalized so EPA can use it to protect families from these toxic chemicals. We appreciate the agency’s dedication to developing new tools like those in today’s proposed rule to clean up contamination and its use of existing authority to keep PFAS out of our drinking water sources.”
Basil Seggos, commissioner, New York Department of Environmental Conservation: “This milestone announcement from the EPA to classify PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances will increase its Superfund authority and result in reducing human and environmental exposure to these emerging contaminants and prevent these chemicals from entering our communities and drinking water supplies. With EPA’s decision once finalized and under Gov. [Kathy] Hochul's leadership, DEC will utilize this new action to strengthen our aggressive nation-leading efforts to protect New Yorkers from these forever chemicals while enforcing our strict environmental laws to force polluters to pay for contaminating our communities.” [Statement]
Marc Yaggi, chief executive officer, Waterkeeper Alliance: “Waterkeeper Alliance applauds EPA’s proposal to classify PFOA and PFOS, two of the most widespread PFAS chemicals, as ‘hazardous substances.’ This action is important for fast-tracking cleanups and finally holding polluters accountable for poisoning so many communities with these dangerous chemicals. While this proposal from EPA is a great first step, there is still so much more work to be done in identifying and remediating the countless water bodies throughout the United States already contaminated by PFAS. EPA must move quickly and finalize these proposed standards.” [Statement]
Sanja Whittington, executive director, Democracy Green: “The EPA’s proposal to designate these two particular forever chemicals as hazardous substances under the federal Superfund law is ushering in accountability, and with accountability comes responsibility. This combination is long overdue for complacent, reckless, and merciless corporations that have shown zero to no regard for the quality of life that occupies this planet.”
Laurene Allen, founder, Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water: “A hazardous substance designation for PFOA will give us the right to insist on cleanup of a site where an EPA-identified polluter continues to contaminate our environment. In Merrimack, N.H., site investigation data at Saint Gobain Performance Plastics shows high levels of PFOA and other PFAS in soil, groundwater, storm water runoff and drains, and outfall to a nearby brook and the Merrimack River. As we work to remediate our drinking water supplies, PFAS contamination of our environment continues.” [Statement]
Linda Robles, founder, Environmental Justice Task Force – Tucson, Ariz.: “PFAS contamination in the Tucson area is a widespread problem, predominantly impacting Latino barrios located near military bases. These communities are at higher rates of developing very serious and irreversible health effects. For decades, the Tucson south side residents have incurred higher rates of cancer and other related diseases from the historical environmental injustices inflicted on people of color and low-wealth populations. By designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA, the inequitable community impacts of PFAS along race and class lines will begin to be addressed.” [Statement]
Joanne Stanton and Hope Grosse, co-founders, Buxmont Coalition for Safer Water in Warminster, Pa.: “This designation of PFOA and PFOS as a hazardous substance is an important first step and we are grateful that President Biden has fulfilled his campaign promise. This will finally jump-start the cleanup process in hundreds of communities across the country. It will also help hold the Department of Defense accountable for decades of releases into the environment and will enable faster investigations and cleanups at sites across the country. This designation of PFOA and PFOS as a hazardous substance begins to address the root of devastating health effects these chemicals have caused.” [Statement]
Cheryl Cail, chairperson, S.C. Idle No More, South Carolina Indian Affairs Commission: “With the announcement of PFOA and PFOS being designated as hazardous substances, the contamination at the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base can finally be addressed with EPA oversight. This is welcome news with so many contaminated military sites in South Carolina. It will finally help DOD manage the PFAS cleanup that is so desperately needed.” [Statement]
Loreen Hackett, PFOA Project in Hoosick Falls, N.Y.: “In New York state, PFOA and PFOS were designated as hazardous substances in 2016, with the final rule effective in March 2017. In doing so, the state solidified its authority to hold polluters accountable, as it should be, and has been, working for over five years, saving communities like Hoosick Falls from being held to what would have been a devastating financial responsibility for contamination caused by industry. There is no feasible reason why this cannot happen on a national level, given our ongoing success on this rule as an example.” [Statement]
Sean Hoffman, federal legislative advocate, Environment America: “Today, the EPA has proposed crucial action to ensure cleanup of two notorious PFAS chemicals. The agency should also ensure that no other PFAS leach from contaminated sites into our drinking water sources. And to truly turn off the toxic tap, we hope EPA will move quickly to eliminate their direct discharge into our waterways, and follow the lead of several states in restricting the use of these dangerous forever chemicals.” [Statement]
Emily Rogers, Zero Out Toxics advocate, Public Interest Research Group: “Research has shown that PFOA and PFOS are harmful to human health. Polluting companies got away with releasing these toxic PFAS for decades, with the burden of negative health impacts like cancer and liver disease, and the task of cleaning up these dangerous pollutants falling on the American people. Polluters must be held financially responsible for cleaning up their messes. This proposed rule will ensure EPA has the necessary tools under Superfund to make PFAS polluters pay for releasing untold amounts of toxic forever chemicals into the environment. This is just the start of a long road toward ensuring Americans are safe from all types of harmful PFAS and we look forward to working with EPA to get there.” [Statement]
Tony Spaniola, co-chair, Great Lakes PFAS Action Network: “The Biden administration has taken another important step to protect families and communities across America. Under this proposed rule, communities like mine in Oscoda, Mich., will have a more powerful tool to push for cleanups and to recover the economic losses that have literally been dumped upon us by the Defense Department and other polluters. We thank President Biden for his strong leadership on this critical issue.”
Sandy Wynn-Stelt, co-chair, Great Lakes PFAS Action Network: “This announcement is a major step forward for cleaning up contamination from industrial polluters and holding them accountable for cleanup costs. In my community of Belmont, Mich., having these chemicals designated as hazardous substances will unlock additional cleanup opportunities for the House Street Dump, which was polluted by Wolverine World Wide’s shoe tannery impacting the water of our community.”
Emily Donovan, co-founder, Clean Cape Fear: “Families like mine living in southeastern North Carolina deserved actions like this decades ago. We’re grateful Biden’s EPA is correcting a historical harm. This is a necessary, good first step to hold chemical companies accountable for contaminating our drinking water and make them pay to clean up their mess. Sadly, our region continues to be exposed to more than just PFOA/PFOS. We need the EPA to also list all PFAS as Hazardous Substances and begin addressing the forever chemicals currently in commercial use.”
Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D., president, National Center for Health Research: “As a public health research center, we have studied the risks of PFOA and PFOS for years, and understand how important it is for the EPA to finally use its authority under the Superfund Law to designate new substances as hazardous, and then require contaminated sites to be cleaned up. This important step will save lives.”
Erik Olson, senior strategic director, health and food, Natural Resources Defense Council: “The EPA is taking an important first step toward cleaning up hundreds of contaminated sites and protecting millions of families across the country who are exposed to these toxic forever chemicals. Listing PFOA and PFOS as hazardous under the Superfund law should allow EPA to hold polluters responsible for that contamination. Ratepayers and public utilities should not be footing the bill for industry's decades of wonton use of these dangerous chemicals.” [Statement]
Anna Reade, senior scientist, health and food, Natural Resources Defense Council: “Today’s listing is a long-awaited and much -needed action to help communities fighting to clean up toxic PFAS contamination. However, with the scientific consensus calling for the entire class to be addressed, cleaning up PFAS one or two at a time is inefficient and delays health protections. EPA should continue to take action and move quickly to require cleanup and regulation of the full family of PFAS.” [Statement]
Betsy Nicholas, executive director, Waterkeepers Chesapeake: “Testing has demonstrated widespread contamination of drinking water and fish species in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and local streams. Designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances will make it easier for EPA and state agencies to prioritize the cleanup of sites contaminated with these forever chemicals and prevent them from getting into our waterways.”
Kristen Mello, co-founder and director, Westfield Residents Advocating for Themselves, Inc.: “Today’s proposal to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA fulfills a promise the agency made to us, and other PFAS contaminated communities like Westfield, Mass., back in June 2018. Applying this designation to these legacy PFAS will not affect current manufacturing or production, but it will allow for the cleanup process to begin in communities contaminated by these ‘forever chemicals.’ Today's proposal is a crucial step on a very long path to helping our communities heal, and we applaud the Environmental Protection Agency and Biden administration for taking it.”
Christine Santillana, legislative counsel, Earthjustice: “It is fair and necessary to hold polluters accountable for contaminating thousands of communities across the country, particularly because companies like 3M and Dupont did so knowingly, and with impunity. We are pleased that EPA is addressing the oldest and most infamous PFAS under the Superfund law. We urge EPA to listen to the communities who have been impacted by PFAS, and not be deterred from finalizing this rule by irrational comments from the polluters who created this public health crisis. We cannot wait for Congress to act. As we speak, companies continue to manufacture toxic PFAS that are contaminating our air, land and water. It is imperative that EPA quickly designates thousands of other poisonous PFAS as hazardous under the Superfund law to provide expansive protections for community health through investigations, monitoring and remediation.” [Statement]
Liz Hitchcock, director, Safer Chemicals Healthy Families, Toxic-Free Future: “We applaud EPA’s action to address the PFAS crisis plaguing communities across the country. It is an important first step that will hold polluters accountable and start cleaning up contaminated sites. Communities are paying for this pollution with our health and our tax dollars. We need continued action – to declare the full class of PFAS hazardous and to prevent further pollution by ending use of all PFAS chemicals in common products like food packaging and firefighting gear.” [Statement]
American Sustainable Business Network: “The American Sustainable Business Network applauds the Environmental Protection Agency for today proposing to designate the two most commonly detected toxic PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ as hazardous substances under the Superfund law.
“PFAS is a diverse class of chemicals used in a wide range of consumer, commercial and industrial products. There are currently more than 3,000 individual PFAS in the global marketplace.
“The proposed rule would ensure that when two types of PFAS, known as PFOA and PFOS, are released over a certain threshold, it will trigger reporting requirements. Such reporting helps EPA and states identify health threats and guide response actions. The designation will also give the EPA power to compel cleanups at some sites contaminated with PFOA and PFOS.
“Through this designation, both public and private sectors can begin to address the harms done to communities and ecosystems as a result of these inputs having long been underregulated. ASBN’s position is that fully addressing and repairing harm done by these ‘forever chemicals,’ through regulatory designation will not only help communities, taxpayers and all those susceptible to this toxic damage but will also ensure investment into clean and sustainable private-sector innovation for suitable, safe and non-toxic alternatives. Many sustainable and responsible manufacturers and retailers have already adopted alternatives to PFAS.
“ASBN noted that this proposed rule, while historic, must not be the last step taken by the EPA on PFAS. First, this proposal only classifies PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances, when scientific evidence shows that other types of PFAS are potentially harmful. Second, this action does not fully ban the use of PFOA or PFOS. So, further actions should be taken to regulate harmful PFAS to level the playing field for companies that are innovating safer PFAS-free products and manufacturing.
“ASBN urges the EPA to move forward on this rulemaking as swiftly as possible. The EPA should also take further action on PFAS in conjunction with the communities that have been impacted, and with the sustainable and responsible business community.” [Statement]
Tom Fox, senior policy advisor, Center for Environmental Health: “I am happy to see that EPA has finally taken the first step of proposing designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERLCA. This action will help provide contaminated communities with information they deserve and hold polluters accountable for the cost of cleanups. There is more than enough scientific evidence for EPA to determine that the entire class of PFAS chemicals qualify for designation as CERCLA hazardous substances. The sooner that EPA finalizes CERCLA hazardous substance designations for PFAS, the sooner that contaminated sites will be cleaned up, the sooner that it will no longer pay for polluters to continue to release them into the environment, and the sooner that companies will switch to safer alternatives.” [Statement]
Brian Ronholm, director, food policy, Consumer Reports: “This designation is a historic step that will finally hold polluters accountable for their actions. It will help facilitate the cleanup process in so many communities that have been impacted by PFAS, especially in environmental justice communities that are often disproportionately exposed to chemical contaminant pollution.” [Statement]
Jennifer Hill, associate director, Great Lakes Regional Center, National Wildlife Federation: “This designation reinforces that PFOA and PFOS chemicals are not safe for people, fish or wildlife. This means all responsible parties, including the Department of Defense and corporate polluters, must now adhere to federal standards that are following the best available science. This rule will mandate action to deliver comprehensive, transparent cleanup to impacted communities.” [Statement]
Genna Reed, director of policy analysis, Center for Science and Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists: “[EPA] Administrator [Michael] Regan made made the right call by naming PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances – a long overdue but welcome action. For decades, too many people have shouldered not just the health costs of exposure to PFAS chemicals, but the financial burden associated with protecting their families and communities from these chemicals. These burdens have fallen harder on communities of color, low-income neighborhoods, and families living in or near military bases. With this rule, EPA will require that the makers and users of these two PFAS pay to clean up their mess. This step is important, but it covers just a fraction of the PFAS manufactured and used in this country. Federal inaction and active disinformation campaigns deployed by the chemical industry to undermine the science have meant that PFOA, PFOS and thousands of other chemicals in the PFAS class have entered our waterways, fields, air, homes and bodies. EPA must urgently follow up this rule with strong science-based and equitable actions to regulate PFAS as a class.” [Statement]
David Madore, Maine Department of Environmental Protection: “When EPA finalizes a rule listing PFOA and PFOS as a hazardous substance, DEP will no longer need to determine those chemicals meet certain criteria on a site prior to requiring cleanup under the Uncontrolled Sites Act.” [Statement]
Josh Stein, attorney general, North Carolina: “Protecting the people of North Carolina is my number one priority, and that includes the air we breathe and the water we drink. I applaud the EPA for giving us more tools to hold companies responsible when they put North Carolinians’ health at risk. I’m grateful to my friend Administrator Regan for his continued commitment to protecting people and the environment. My team and I will continue our work to hold accountable the companies responsible for PFAS pollution.” [Statement]
HRP Associates: “Designating PFOA and PFOS under CERCLA would improve transparency, accountability, and deliver on Administrator Regan’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap.” [Statement]
Madeleine Foote, deputy legislative director, League of Conservation Voters: “We are grateful to Administrator Regan and the EPA for designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances. This is an essential step toward finally holding polluters accountable, who for decades have harmed communities across the country by contaminating their food, water, air and lands while posing significant dangers to our health, especially in low-wealth communities and communities of color, who are disproportionately exposed to toxic pollution. Today’s actions will make it easier for the EPA to prioritize cleanup of contaminated sites, and it will give local governments and small businesses the power to ensure polluters – not communities – bear the cost.” [Statement]
Here’s what elected officials around the U.S. say about the significance of this designation.
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: “Too many communities across the country are struggling to address the presence of PFAS chemicals on their land and in their waters. Hats off to EPA for taking this bold and necessary step to get those responsible for this contamination to pitch in and help communities to clean up. This is a first step in a much-needed, all-hands effort to keep harmful PFAS chemicals out of our air, water and soils.” [Statement]
Rep. Peter DeFazio (R-Ore.), chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee: “Today’s proposal to designate two of the most widely used PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances is a critical step as we seek to combat these dangerous chemicals that wreak havoc on the environment and the health of our communities. Keeping these ‘forever chemicals’ from polluting water and sewage systems must also mean holding polluters accountable and financially responsible. I applaud today’s actions and look forward to making further progress through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invests $10 billion to address PFAS contamination.” [Statement]
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.): “Forever chemicals are an urgent public health and environmental threat for communities across the country, including the ones I represent, and the number of contaminated sites nationwide continues to grow at an alarming rate. In 2018, we learned the Huron River was contaminated end to end with these chemicals after decades of industrial pollution and in response I introduced the bipartisan PFAS Action Act to designate PFAS as the hazardous substances we know they are. I applaud President Biden and the EPA for taking this significant step forward. This action today continues the administration’s efforts to combat forever chemicals. Designating PFOA and PFOS – the two most notorious and harmful chemicals – will go a long way in helping to finally jump-start cleanups nationwide, prevent future PFAS contamination, hold polluters accountable, and protect Americans from the dangerous effects of these chemicals long-term. I thank my colleagues in Congress and all our partners who have helped to get us here, and I encourage you to continue to make your voices heard during the comment period for this rulemaking in support of this important designation. Our work is far from done. Now that the House has passed the PFAS Action Act twice, the Senate must send it to the president’s desk so this progress cannot be reversed in the future.”
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), co-chair of the Congressional PFAS Task Force: “Today, our federal government is taking an important step toward protecting citizens from dangerous ‘forever chemicals’ like PFOS and PFOA. The EPA's proposal to properly categorize these two PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances will ensure immediate transparency on the health and safety risks posed to our communities, as well as further safeguard all Americans from the harmful effects of PFAS contamination in the future. I am proud to support this action and look forward to the continued implementation of the PFAS Strategic Roadmap by Administrator Regan and the EPA.” [Statement]
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.): “PFAS chemicals pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of Granite Staters, and we need to be doing all that we can to ensure that people are protected from them. This announcement is an important step toward addressing PFAS contamination and ensuring that those who pollute are held accountable. I’ll keep working with my colleagues to address the dangers of PFAS and give families certainty that they are safe from these chemicals.”
Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), chief deputy whip of the House Democratic Caucus and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force: “I applaud this long overdue action to hold polluters accountable for contaminating communities with harmful PFAS chemicals. Thousands of communities have been harmed by PFAS contamination, including Oscoda, Mich., in my district. Today’s action is the first step to finally provide these communities with the resources they need to clean up these dangerous forever chemicals and ensure that polluters, not taxpayers, foot the bill. As co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force, I will continue working with Republicans and Democrats to protect Michigan families from PFAS.”
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee: “With this announcement, the tens of millions of Americans who live near a PFAS-contaminated site can finally rest easier, knowing that help is on the way. This is the kind of leadership and care for public health our communities deserve, and I commend Administrator Regan for continuing to prioritize the best interests of the American people over those of corporate polluters. That this proposed rule ensures communities will finally get boots on the ground – and that polluters will pay the bill – is particularly laudable. This action comes as especially welcome news for environmental justice communities, who have endured the scourge of toxic PFAS contamination for far too long. I look forward to working with EPA to ensure this critically needed proposed rule gets across the finish line.” [Statement]
Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.): “This rulemaking would increase transparency around releases of these harmful chemicals and help to hold polluters accountable for cleaning up their contamination. Nothing is more critical to the health of our communities than ensuring the safety of our water. Today’s announcement from EPA is a welcome and long-overdue step that will ensure polluters are held accountable for the contamination they cause in our communities. However, we know that many more categories of PFAS chemicals pose dangers to our communities. It’s time we finally act to set real limits on industrial PFAS discharges and provide our communities with the resources they need to clean up their water, and I’ll keep pushing to pass my Clean Water Standards for PFAS legislation until we can be sure no polluter has license to contaminate our water.”
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies: “Maine has been at the forefront of the PFAS crisis, and while we’re only at the beginning stages of understanding its scope, it’s been clear we urgently need to address the nationwide contamination. These PFAS chemicals are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic, posing serious health risks to all Americans. After years of pushing for federal action, I’m thrilled to see the EPA is finally taking steps to clean up contaminated sites and hold polluters accountable.” [Statement]
Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.): “I am pleased that the EPA is moving to designate PFOA and PFOS –two of the most common ‘forever chemicals’ – as hazardous substances under CERCLA. Earlier this month, I joined over 100 of my colleagues to call on EPA to take this action. North Carolinians are too familiar with the harmful environmental and health effects of PFAS contamination, and this is an important step towards holding polluters accountable and cleaning up our communities. I want to thank EPA Administrator Regan for his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to learning more about the steps his agency is taking to protect our people from these chemicals. I will continue my work in Congress to do the same.” [Statement]
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate majority leader: “After more than two years pushing the EPA to list toxic PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances, I am proud of today’s announcement by President Biden and EPA Administrator Regan, which will reduce pollution and protect public health. This important step will allow communities to pursue polluters – from manufacturers to irresponsible polluters – and hold them accountable for the damage done. I applaud the EPA’s continued work to address PFAS contamination and I will keep pushing for speedy cleanups across New York: from Long Island to Newburgh to Westchester and Niagara.” [Statement]
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.): “Granite Staters know all too well the harmful impacts of PFAS chemicals, which are tied to adverse health effects and environmental pollution. The administration took an important step today toward classifying two of the most widely used and dangerous PFAS chemicals – PFOS and PFOA – as hazardous substances under the Superfund law. I’ve long pushed for this designation to increase transparency and hold polluters accountable, and I’ll keep working to improve our public health response and support Granite Staters affected by PFAS contamination.” [Statement]
Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change: “All across the country, PFAS contaminations have put Americans’ health at risk. Moving forward with a CERCLA hazardous substance designation for PFOA and PFOS is an important step in fulfilling the agency’s commitments in its PFAS Strategic Roadmap and will ensure that communities are able to hold PFAS polluters accountable. I want to thank Administrator Regan and the EPA staff for their work, and I encourage the agency to finalize this proposal as quickly as possible.” [Statement]
Kathy Hochul (D), governor of New York: “I applaud the EPA for taking bold and needed action to classify PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances that will help protect New Yorkers and communities across the nation from the potential health risks posed by these forever chemicals. In New York, we’re at the forefront of the fight to ensure these harmful chemicals don’t pollute our communities and waterways while ensuring those who are accountable are cleaning up the contamination they cause. We stand with the EPA on this decision and will continue our aggressive work in New York to protect our communities from contaminants.” [Statement]
Josh Stein (D), attorney general, North Carolina: “Protecting the people of North Carolina
is my number one priority, and that includes the air we breathe and the water we drink. I applaud the EPA for giving us more tools to hold companies responsible when they put North Carolinians' health at risk. I'm grateful to my friend Administrator Regan for his continued commitment to protecting people and the environment. My team and I will continue our work to hold accountable the companies responsible for PFAS pollution.” [Statement]
