PFAS Letter to President Biden

Dear President Biden:

We urge the Biden administration to move swiftly to designate PFOA and PFOS, the two most studied “forever chemicals,” as hazardous substances.

In October 2021, you announced "accelerated efforts” across the government to tackle PFAS, including plans to propose PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances. Your announcement reaffirmed your campaign pledge, in The Biden Plan to Secure Environmental Justice and Equitable Economic Opportunity, to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances, recognizing the contamination crisis caused by decades of unregulated releases of these toxic chemicals.

PFAS pollution threatens thousands of communities, including low-income and communities of color who, through no fault of their own, are confronting health effects and costs of clean up. But the administration has yet to propose designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances. Further delay will pose unacceptable, continued risks to these communities.

As you know, the designation of a substance as hazardous does not ban its use, and many such chemicals remain in commerce and are widely used in commercial products. However, coupled with other broad-based actions needed to tackle additional PFAS, the designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances is an important first step toward helping the EPA hold polluters accountable, encouraging more responsible stewardship, and accelerating efforts to clean up contaminated sites.

We are grateful for your commitment and efforts to address PFAS.  We urge you to fulfill this commitment by designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances without delay.

Respectfully, 

Tennessee Riverkeeper