politics
Trump Administration to Propose Changes to Biden-Era PFAS Drinking Water Standards
The EPA will soon propose delaying compliance deadlines for two common PFAS compounds while rescinding standards for rarer forms, starting a formal rollback of rules finalized under former President Biden. Jessica Kramer, head of the EPA's Office of Water, announced the move Thursday in Washington, D.C., citing legal deficiencies in the prior process.
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The Trump administration will soon propose softening Biden-era limits on PFAS in drinking water, delaying but keeping tough standards for two common types and rescinding limits on some rarer forms of the substance, according to an EPA official. The proposal will start the formal process of rolling back parts of the first-ever limits on PFAS in drinking water finalized during former President Joe Biden's administration.
Officials at the time found that PFAS increased the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and babies being born with low birth weight.
On Thursday that the agency intended to rescind and revisit certain limits she said were improperly issued by the Biden administration. The move aligns with actions the EPA had said a year ago they intended to take. Officials previously said they would propose rescinding limits on three types of PFAS, including GenX substances found in North Carolina.
Officials will reconsider the three types of PFAS after rescinding the limits and will also rescind and reconsider a limit on a mixture of several types of PFAS. “We need drinking water rules that are legally defensible. We need drinking water regulations that are not susceptible to legal challenge because the explicit process in the Safe Drinking Water Act wasn’t followed,” Kramer said at the conference focused on ensuring everyone has access to safe drinking water and wastewater.
She said the intent is to start the process over and follow the law. The Biden administration faced allegations they did not follow the correct legal process, moving too quickly on limits on the less common types of PFAS. ABC News reported that the agency is committed to helping utilities reduce PFAS in drinking water.
