Letter to ranking members of Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

June 22, 2022

The Honorable Thomas Carper Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Tammy Duckworth Subcommittee Chair Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito Ranking Member Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Cynthia Lummis Subcommittee Ranking Member Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Carper, Ranking Member Capito, Subcommittee Chair Duckworth, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Lummis:

We, the undersigned organizations, urge you to pass legislation to protect Americans’ drinking water from the class of toxic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Every American should feel confident that the water coming out of our taps is both clean and safe. Unfortunately, the drinking water of millions of Americans across the nation is contaminated by PFAS, which are linked to cancer and other severe illnesses.

PFAS don’t break down in the environment, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.” Due to their widespread use in everything from non-stick pans to firefighting foam, these toxic chemicals can now be found almost everywhere across our country. In addition to contamination from manufacturing sites and products, the U.S. Department of Defense has already identified nearly 700 military bases across the country with known or potential PFAS contamination — and the number of contaminated sites continues to grow, endangering nearby communities. Research links PFAS exposure in humans to cancer, immune system deficiencies, high cholesterol and low fertility, and even developmental issues in children and infants. Moreover, the health impacts of PFAS are magnified because the chemicals persist in the environment indefinitely and many of them accumulate in the food chain.

In short, allowing the widespread use of toxic chemicals that last forever virtually guarantees that our sources of drinking water will become contaminated. That’s why we’re urging Congress to act now – to move our economy from PFAS to safer alternatives and to strictly limit exposures and health damage as long as these chemicals remain in our environment.

Specifically, such legislation should include the following provisions:

● Prohibit the use of PFAS in firefighting foam

● Designate all PFAS as "hazardous substances" under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

● Direct EPA to Issue drinking water standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act for all PFAS within two years

● Direct EPA to complete its effluent limitation guidelines for PFAS, which based on available technology should effectively end the dumping of these toxic chemicals into our waterways, within two years.

While the above provisions are the most critical to protecting America’s drinking water from PFAS contamination, Congress can and should also direct EPA to take additional steps in a timely manner, including:

● Require testing of all PFAS for toxicity to human health under the Toxic Substances Control Act within four years

● Investigate methods and means to prevent GenX (a newer type of PFAS) contamination of surface waters

● Establish a school PFAS testing and filtration grant program within one year

● Require covered manufacturers of PFAS to submit reference standards to EPA within six months

● Designate PFOA and PFOS as "hazardous air pollutants" pursuant to the Clean Air Act within six months and determine if other PFAS should be added within five years

● Establish PFAS-related testing and pre-treatment requirements for the land application or distribution of bio-solids (e.g., sludge or sludge-derived compost) within four years.

For too many communities all across America, PFAS and its harmful effects were something residents learned about only after discovering that their drinking water had been contaminated for years or after experiencing serious PFAS-related health issues. PFAS contamination impacts all 50 states, so we urge Congress to come together to agree on a comprehensive solution that will work to protect the whole nation. To that end, we call on Congress to ensure that no more American communities need suffer the impacts of these toxic forever chemicals by passing legislation that implements the above reforms to turn off the tap on toxic PFAS pollution as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Alabama Rivers Alliance - Birmingham, Alabama

LDA of Alabama - Montgomery, Alabama

Tennessee Riverkeeper - Decatur, Alabama

Gustavus PFAS Action Coalition - Gustavus, Alaska

Arizona Climate Action Coalition - Phoenix, Arizona

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona Chapter - Phoenix, Arizona

Mothers for Safe Air Safe Water Force Tucson - Tucson, Arizona

Arkansas Community Organizations - Little Rock, Arkansas

Buffalo River Watershed Alliance - Jasper, Arkansas

7th Generation Advisors - Los Angeles, California

CalPIRG - Sacramento, California

Environment California - Los Angeles, California

Russian Riverkeeper - Healdsburg, California

San Francisco Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility - San Francisco, California

Environment America - Denver, Colorado

Moms Clean Air Force Colorado Chapter - Denver, Colorado

U.S. PIRG - Denver, Colorado

Farmington River Watershed Association - Simsbury, Connecticut

Park Watershed - Hartford, Connecticut

Pequabuck River Watershed Association - Bristol, Connecticut

Windsor Climate Action - Windsor, Connecticut

Fight for Zero, Inc. - Cocoa, Florida

Waterway Advocates - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Georgia Interfaith Power and Light - Decatur, Georgia

Georgia River Network - Atlanta, Georgia

Moms Clean Air Force Georgia Chapter - Atlanta, Georgia

Science for Georgia, Inc. - Atlanta, Georgia

Environment Illinois - Chicago, Illinois

Illinois PIRG - Chicago, Illinois

Environment Iowa - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Iowa PIRG - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Moms Clean Air Force Iowa Chapter - Kellogg, Iowa

Environment Maryland - Baltimore, Maryland

Gunpowder Riverkeeper - Monkton, Maryland

Maryland PIRG - Baltimore, Maryland

Waterkeepers Chesapeake - Takoma Park, Maryland

Duxbury Safe Water Committee, Inc - Duxbury, Massachusetts

Environment Massachusetts - Boston, Massachusetts

MassPIRG - Boston, Massachusetts

Massachusetts River Alliance - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Mystic River Watershed Association - Arlington, Massachusetts

Seaside Sustainability, Inc. - Gloucester, Massachusetts

Ecology Center - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Huron River Watershed Council - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Michigan Environmental Council - Lansing, Michigan

National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Regional Center - Ann Arbor, Michigan

NOW Need Our Water - Oscoda, Michigan

Rotary Club of Oscoda - Oscoda, Michigan

West Michigan Environmental Action Council - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water - Merrimack, New Hampshire

Testing for Pease - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

NY/NJ Baykeeper - Hazlet, New Jersey

Moms Clean Air Force New Mexico Chapter - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Catawba Riverkeeper - McAdenville, North Carolina

Clean Cape Fear- Wilmington, North Carolina

MountainTrue - Asheville, North Carolina

NC Child - Raleigh, North Carolina

Sound Rivers - Raleigh/New Bern/Washington, North Carolina

Toxic Free NC - Durham, North Carolina

Environment Oregon - Portland, Oregon

Grand Riverkeeper - Miami, Oklahoma

LEAD Agency, Inc. - Vinita, Oklahoma

Tar Creekkeeper - Vinita, Oklahoma

Oregonizers - Keizer, Oregon

OSPIRG - Portland, Oregon

Buxmont Coalition for Safer Water - Lansdale, Pennsylvania

Moms Clean Air Force Pennsylvania Chapter - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

United Sludge Free Alliance - Kempton, Pennsylvania

Environment Rhode Island - Providence, Rhode Island

Congaree Riverkeeper - Columbia, South Carolina

SC Idle No More, SCIAC - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

South Carolina Indian Affairs Commission - Columbia, South Carolina

Protect Our Aquifer - Memphis, Tennessee

Vermonters for a Clean Environment - Danby, Vermont

Vermont Natural Resources Council - Montpelier, Vermont

Wild Virginia - Charlottesville, Virginia

RE Sources - Bellingham, Washington

Zero Waste Washington - Seattle, Washington

Moms Clean Air Force West Virginia Chapter - Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Clean Water Action Council of NE WI - Green Bay, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Riverkeeper - Milwaukee, Wisconsin