Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stood at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge to announce the bicameral Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2023, which would regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals under the Clean Water Act (CWA). PFAS chemicals are widespread contaminants found in a variety of consumer products, various industrial applications, and firefighting foam. They cause an array of health problems, including developmental effects, changes in liver, immune system, and thyroid function and increased risk of some cancers. According to recent reporting, at least 33 water districts across Long Island had traces of PFAS found in their drinking water. Gillibrand’s bill would establish the first federal limits to help stop the flow of PFAS into our nation’s waterways by setting deadlines for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop water quality criteria and limits on industrial PFAS discharges into water and water treatment plants.
Senator Gillibrand was joined by Town Supervisor of Southampton Jay Schneiderman, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment Adrienne Esposito, and Long Island Natural Areas Manager at Save the Sound Louise Harrison.
“It is unacceptable that toxic PFAS chemicals are infiltrating the water supply of communities on Long Island and across the entire nation,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am proud to introduce the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2023 to set the first-ever federal limits on PFAS and to prevent polluters from contaminating our waterways. People living in the United States deserve access to clean, safe drinking water, regardless of zip code.”
“Toxic PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ are one of the greatest water quality threats of our generation. After decades of widespread use of these harmful chemicals, PFAS are now ubiquitous in our environment and our bodies, with studies now detecting PFAS in human blood. The EPA has found there is essentially no safe level of exposure to PFAS in our drinking water, yet industry continues to manufacture these toxic chemicals and discharge them into our waterways. We cannot continue allowing industry to contaminate our drinking water resources. CCE applauds Senator Gillibrand for pushing to establish science-based limits on PFAS from polluting industries and ensure these chemicals do not continue to enter our waterways through our public wastewater systems. This is a crucial step in combatting PFAS contamination and protecting our public health,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
A longtime leader in the fight against PFAS chemicals, Senator Gillibrand visited Long Island to outline how her federal bill would require EPA to develop water quality criteria for all measurable PFAS or classes of PFAS, and develop effluent limitations guidelines and standards for all measurable PFAS or classes of PFAS. This updated legislation sets deadlines for these criteria and limits within the next few years, in accordance with the EPA PFAS Roadmap. This includes establishing pretreatment standards to prevent the introduction of PFAS into publicly-owned water treatment facilities, therefore helping stop PFAS at the source before it gets into the municipal water system.
The bill focuses on eight priority industry categories known to discharge PFAS. These priority industry categories are: Organic Chemicals, Plastics and Synthetic Fibers; Electroplating; Metal Finishing; Textile Mills; Landfills; Leather Tanning and Finishing; Paint Formulating; and Plastics Molding and Forming.
Specifically, this bill would:
- Require EPA to develop water quality criteria under the CWA for all measurable PFAS or classes of PFAS within three years.
- Require EPA to establish effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) and standards for eight priority industry categories for all measurable PFAS or classes of PFAS. EPA would be required to establish such ELGs according to the following timeline:
- Not later than June 30, 2024: Organic Chemicals, Plastics and Synthetic Fibers; Electroplating; and Metal Finishing
- Not later than June 30, 2025: Textile Mills; and Landfills
- Not later than December 31, 2026: Leather Tanning and Finishing; Paint Formulating; and Plastics Molding and Forming
- Require EPA to establish PFAS monitoring requirements for three additional industry categories (Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard; Airports; and Electrical and Electronic Components) and reach a determination on whether ELG standards are needed for these industries by December 31, 2024.
- Establish a new $200 million EPA grant program to help publicly owned treatment works address PFAS contamination for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
- Authorize $12 million for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026 to help EPA implement the bill.