Chairman Carper Statement on EPA Action to Address PFAS Contamination in Water Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released the following statement applauding action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to solicit data on the presence and treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater discharges from PFAS formulators and manufacturers.

“Forever chemicals like PFAS are a danger to Americans across the nation,” said Senator Carper. “This action taken by EPA is an important first step towards addressing the discharge of PFAS chemicals into our rivers, streams and wastewater facilities. I am encouraged by this administration’s early efforts to address PFAS contamination at its source. As Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I’ll continue the fight in Congress to ensure all families have access to safe and clean water.”

Background

• On March 1, 2019, Senator Carper, along with a bipartisan group of Senators, introduced legislation to mandate that EPA declare PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances eligible for cleanup funds under the EPA Superfund law and enable a requirement that polluters undertake or pay for remediation.
• On May 16, 2019, Senator Carper, along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), introduced the PFAS Release Disclosure Act, legislation that would improve the availability of information related to PFAS.
• On May 20, 2020, Senator Carper led Democratic members of the EPW Committee in asking EPA to share its plans to address PFAS contamination at Superfund sites.
• On July 28, 2020, Senator Carper requested that the EPA Inspector General commence an investigation into potential irregularities associated with the finalization of a Significant New Use Rule (SNUR), which is designed to restrict the use of certain long-chain PFAS chemicals in consumer products.
• On February 4, 2021, Senator Carper and Senator Peters reintroduced the Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act to protect the health and safety of firefighters, emergency responders, and the communities they serve. 
• On March 1, 2021, Senator Carper and Senator Peters released a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that shows the federal government needs to take further action to clean up and prevent contamination from PFAS.