WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Fred Upton (MI-6), and Dan Kildee (MI-5) introduced bipartisan legislation that designates all PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances and allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up contaminated sites in Michigan and across the country.
The EPA currently does not list any per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Superfund program which allows the EPA and federal agencies to clean up contaminated sites. Dingell, Upton, and Kildee wrote the PFAS Action Act to designate all PFAS chemicals under the Superfund program because they pose serious risks to human health and the environment and there is a growing urgency and need to act. By making this listing, EPA will be able to direct federal resources to clean up contaminated sites and limit the spread of these dangerous substances.
“Michigan has been hit hard by PFAS,” said Dingell. “It’s clear it’s a threat to human health and our environment. It’s been found in our drinking water, air, food, and consumer products. Our bipartisan legislation will list all PFAS as the hazardous chemicals we know they are and give the EPA the tools it needs to clean up contaminated sites.”
“PFAS contamination represents a clear and present danger to Michigan families,” said Upton. “And, as Parchment made crystal clear, we need an all-hands-on-deck effort to protect both human health and our environment. This bipartisan legislation will ensure we’re treating PFAS as a hazardous chemical and giving our agencies the resources to clean up sites for the betterment of our communities.”
“Toxic PFAS chemicals are a serious threat to public health and we must pass policies that protect our communities from contamination. This bipartisan legislation is an important first step to making sure federal agencies can clean up sites like Wurtsmith in Oscoda, Buick City in Flint and others across the country,” said Kildee.
You can read a copy of the PFAS Action Act here.
Last year, the Environment Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in which an EPA official committed to sending experts and senior officials to Michigan to discuss PFAS contamination sites. The EPA had originally planned a public meeting in Michigan, but later pulled it from the schedule. In October, EPA visited sites with confirmed PFAS levels in Michigan.
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