SOURCE:
By Michael DeSantis,Patch Staff - March 14, 2023
The proposed regulations focus on "forever chemicals" - chemicals that do not break down - found in drinking water.
FARMINGDALE, NY — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday proposed new enforceable drinking water standards, known as maximum contaminant levels, for two chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, found in drinking water, the agency announced.
The proposal also includes a hazard index for four additional chemicals: PFNA, PFBS, PFHxS, and GenX.
The EPA anticipates the regulations will be finalized by the end of the year. The agency also said the rule, if fully implemented, could prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses.
"This is a historic victory for clean water and public health!" Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a non-profit based in Farmingdale, stated. "This ruling will provide critical public health protection for every member of the public. We commend the EPA for following the science and proposing strong standards to protect our water and the public from dangerous 'forever chemicals.' PFAS is group of highly toxic chemicals that tragically have become ubiquitous in our environment. Setting strong, enforceable drinking water standards is a needed step to remove this dangerous contaminant from drinking water across the nation."
The maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS were proposed at 4 parts per trillion (ppt), compared to New York state's existing maximum levels of 10ppt for both PFOS and PFOA.
"This is a significantly low standard, crafted to protect public health," the Citizens Campaign for the Environment wrote.
PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment or people's bodies.
"Exposure is linked to cancer, liver damage, thyroid issues, birth defects, kidney disease, decreased immunity and other serious health problems," the non-profit wrote.
The EPA is requesting public comment on the proposed regulation. Public comments can soon be provided on the government regulations website under Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0114. Information on submitting comments to EPA dockets can be found here.
Last year, the EPA put out health advisory guidelines for PFOA (.004 ppt) and PFOS (.02ppt), which the Citizens Campaign for the Environment called "un-enforceable."
"This was significantly lower than the previous health guideline of 70 ppt and signified that there is essentially no safe level of exposure to these chemicals," the non-profit wrote.
Areas on Long Island where PFAS contamination has been detected in the water supply include:
Bethpage
Garden City
Hempstead
Jericho
Massapequa
Oyster Bay
Riverhead
Westbury
Westhampton
Yaphank
The EPA also proposed a maximum contaminant level goal — a non-enforceable health advisory level — for PFOA and PFOS at zero, which the Citizens Campaign for the Environment said confirms there is no "safe level of exposure."
In September 2022, the NYS Department of Health issued a proposal to regulate an additional 23 PFAS chemicals in drinking water. The regulations have not been finalized.
"New York will ultimately have to strengthen its existing MCLs for PFOA and PFOS to align with EPA’s new regulations," Esposito said. "Given the science indicating that there is no safe level of exposure to these chemicals, we are urging Governor [Kathy] Hochul and the Department of Health not to wait and to adopt the stronger standards without delay."
Esposito also called upon the state to revisit and strengthen the proposed regulations on the additional 23 PFAS chemicals.
"Thankfully, the state and federal governments have recently provided historic levels of funding to address PFAS in drinking water, with grants already being provided for needed treatment technology to many communities across New York State," Esposito said. "There is no reason we can’t move forward with stronger standards in New York State now. The public needs and deserves clean water."