AG Kaul Leads Coalition in Support of EPA’s proposal to include PFAS as a class in the Contaminant Candidate List 5
September 17, 2021
MADISON, Wis. –Attorney General Josh Kaul, as part of a 14-state coalition plus the District of Columbia, today submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) supporting the agency’s proposal to include the chemical group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS or “forever” chemicals, in the Contaminant Candidate List 5 (CCL 5). Listing PFAS as a class in the CCL 5 is the first step toward gathering national occurrence data about whether PFAS are present in drinking water supplies and considering the regulation of PFAS as a class in drinking water.
The States support EPA’s proposal to include PFAS as a class in CCL 5, and also ask EPA to: (1) define PFAS broadly to ensure that the entire class of PFAS is included in the CCL 5; and (2) gather information to consider setting drinking water standards for PFAS as a class.
PFAS chemicals resist degradation in the environment and accumulate in the body. Those contaminants may be linked to serious adverse health effects in humans and animals. Epidemiologic studies have shown that potential adverse human health effects from exposure to some PFAS include increased serum cholesterol, immune dysregulation, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and kidney and testicular cancers. Exposure to certain types of PFAS is also associated with low birthweight in humans, suppressed immune system response, dyslipidemia, impaired kidney function, and delayed onset of menstruation.
Across the country, PFAS contamination is most often associated with military bases, firefighting training centers, civilian airports, and industrial facilities. PFAS chemicals tend to be persistent in the environment and have been used for decades as ingredients in consumer products such as firefighting foam and household products. Some states with significant PFAS contamination are currently spending tens of millions of dollars to address the contamination in public drinking water systems, and to investigate numerous areas and sources of potential contamination.
The attorneys general state in the letter, “This listing is a significant first step in EPA’s consideration of whether to set drinking water standards under the [Safe Drinking Water Act] for PFAS as a class. We urge EPA to move forward quickly to gather occurrence data on PFAS as a class in public water systems and to evaluate whether to set drinking water standards for PFAS as a class.”
In addition to Attorney General Kaul, attorneys general from the following states signed the letter: Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Press Release: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/ag-kaul-leads-coalition-support-epa%E2%80%99s-proposal-include-pfas-class-contaminant
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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- Environmental Advocates Hail Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision in Evers v Marklein - Midwest Environmental Advocates - Jul 8th, 2025
- Wisconsin Supreme Court Backs State Regulators of PFAS Pollution - Danielle Kaeding and Rich Kremer - Jun 24th, 2025
- Gov. Evers Releases Statement on Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision in WMC Inc v. DNR - Gov. Tony Evers - Jun 24th, 2025
- Rep. Shelia Stubbs Elected Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus Vice Chair of the Task Force on Emerging Contaminants - State Rep. Shelia Stubbs - Jun 16th, 2025
- Legislature’s Budget Committee Unanimously Boosts Clean Water Funding By $732 Million - Danielle Kaeding - Jun 6th, 2025
- Trump Administration moves to weaken standards for toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water - Clean Wisconsin - May 14th, 2025
- Wisconsin Officials Unhappy With EPA Plan To Weaken PFAS Standards - Danielle Kaeding - May 14th, 2025
- Wisconsin Could Lose $55 Million Under Proposed EPA Budget Cuts - Danielle Kaeding - May 7th, 2025
- French Island Makes Progress on PFAS Pollution - Richelle Wilson and Trevor Hook - Mar 24th, 2025
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