After Feds Weaken Drinking Water Standards, NY Environmentalists Call for Tighter Regulations At Home

As New York makes progress on stopping contamination from long-lasting chemicals known as PFAS the Environmental Protection Agency is back-tracking on a up-to-date federal regulation that set tighter limits for these chemicals in drinking water A drinking fountain at Mount Hope Playground in the Bronx Photo by Adi Talwar The U S Environmental Protection Agency EPA communicated Wednesday that it plans to rescind and reconsider allowable levels of four long-lasting chemicals known as PFAS in drinking water overturning regulations set by the Biden administration last spring And utility companies will get a two-year extension to comply with previously-set standards for two other types of PFAS personnel reported In response environmental groups are urging Gov Kathy Hochul to counteract the federal authorities s decision by tightening PFAS regulations at home They want New York s rules to match the stricter limits set by the Biden administration last year The Trump administration s rollback on drinking water standards puts New Yorkers well-being and safety at jeopardy a spokesperson for the governor noted in an email without commenting on calls to strengthen state rules PFAS often called forever chemicals because they don t break down easily are commonly used to stain-proof and waterproof goods including non-stick pans clothing menstrual products cosmetics and firefighting foams But continued exposure to PFAS can lead to healthcare issues from increasing the jeopardy of certain cancers to immune system deficiencies and developmental delays in children In April of last year the EPA under Biden tightened limits on the amount of PFAS chemicals that can be present in drinking water and gave utilities until to comply To meet the new requirements society utility water systems would need to inform the citizens of the level of PFAS measured in their drinking water If those levels exceed established limits they need to install filtration technologies to remove the chemicals or find alternative water sources The move was historic as it was the first time the agency had set enforceable limits on PFAS in drinking water But the Trump administration has since extended the compliance deadline for the Biden-era rule for two of the the bulk common PFAS chemicals PFOA and PFOS to And it reconsidered the limits listed in the initial regulation for four other chemicals PFHxS PFNA HFPO-DA and PFBS The agency plans to issue a proposed rule for those new limits this fall and finalize it in the spring of according to a press release The work to protect Americans from PFAS in drinking water started under the first Trump Administration and will continue under my leadership the head of the EPA Lee Zeldin stated in a message But the environmental public in New York says the decision is detrimental to progress being made to protect communities from these chemicals which the Empire State has been passing laws to phase out Delay puts people at exposure of exposure to contaminants in drinking water and increases their threat for a variety of strength problems plain and simple commented Shannon Roback science director at the environmental organization Riverkeeper Roback says updating state-level drinking water standards to mirror the EPA s more protective original proposal could help New York build on its progress in phasing out PFAS contamination altogether New York has been phasing out the use of PFAS in certain goods and passed tight restrictions on their presence in drinking water in Photo by Jeanmarie Evelly Over the last decade New York has been steadily tightening regulations against these chemicals and has become according to experts a national leader in cracking down on the use of PFAS In New York adopted certain of the nation s lowest drinking water limits for the presence of two of the preponderance common types of PFAS known as PFOA and PFOS And the New York State budget approved earlier this month included a ban on the use of PFAS in firefighting gear The PFAS-Free NY Campaign backs at least five additional bills this legislative session to crack down on the use of these chemicals That includes statute that would ban PFAS in household goods one that would get rid of it in menstrual products and another that would regulate its use in cosmetics New York already bans these chemicals in certain products there is one law on the books that prohibits carpets including artificial turf from containing PFAS And there are others that prohibit its use in clothing or apparel in food packaging and firefighter foam New York has been a leader in addressing PFAS trash stated Rob Hayes senior director of clean water at Environmental Advocates NY Hayes says the rollback on the EPA s drinking water standards for PFAS won t impact New York City where the drinking water at this moment meets even the more stricter levels set under Biden But at least million New York residents will be exposed to PFAS contamination according to a modern statement by the Environmental Working Group That s because there are New York water systems primarily serving residents on Long Island that don t meet the standard the overview notes Still Hayes says that relaxing any PFAS rules now could lead New York down a dangerous path and that tightening drinking water regulations on the state level could guarantee New Yorkers stay protected When the federal leadership fails us New York state personnel have to step up to protect us Hayes reported If the use of PFAS chemicals in products and in manufacturing processes continues it s achievable that down the line the New York City s drinking water could become polluted too and it s another reason why we have to turn off the tap on these chemicals entirely To reach the reporter behind this story contact Mariana citylimits org To reach the editor contact Jeanmarie citylimits org Want to republish this story Find City Limits reprint plan here The post After Feds Weaken Drinking Water Standards NY Environmentalists Call for Tighter Regulations At Home appeared first on City Limits