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. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
More about the PFAS Problem
- Gov. Evers Slams Republicans for Continued Delays Releasing Critical Funds to Fight PFAS Statewide, Stabilize Healthcare Industry in Western Wisconsin - Gov. Tony Evers - Mar 11th, 2024
- Wisconsin DNR Update On WMC And Leather Rich, Inc V. DNR - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Mar 8th, 2024
- State Appeals Court Blocks DNR’s Regulation of PFAS - Danielle Kaeding - Mar 6th, 2024
- Evers Seeks Compromise on Republican PFAS Bill - Danielle Kaeding - Feb 27th, 2024
- Gov. Evers Urges Lawmakers to Support Compromise to Release $125 Million to Fight PFAS Contaminants Statewide - Gov. Tony Evers - Feb 27th, 2024
- PFAS Bill Puts Burden of PFAS Cleanup on Wisconsin Taxpayers - Clean Wisconsin - Feb 26th, 2024
- PFAS ‘poison pill’ bill SB 312 is bad legislation deserving of veto - Wisconsin Conservation Voters - Feb 26th, 2024
- Legislature Passes PFAS Bill, But Evers Likely To Veto It - Danielle Kaeding - Feb 22nd, 2024
- Republican Proposal Moves Forward PFAS Standards - Danielle Kaeding - Feb 19th, 2024
- New PFAS legislation would allow critical PFAS groundwater standards to progress - Wisconsin Conservation Voters - Feb 7th, 2024
Read more about PFAS Problem here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Wisconsin Department of Justice
Attorney General Kaul Joins FTC in Taking Action Against Allegedly Fraudulent Charity for Deceiving Donors
Mar 12th, 2024 by Wisconsin Department of JusticeComplaint charges Women’s Cancer Fund and Gregory Anderson with raising more than $18 million from donors, with only 1% going to financial support for cancer patients
Second Man Sentenced for Murder of Dodgeville, Wis. Woman
Mar 6th, 2024 by Wisconsin Department of JusticeMarch 6, 2024
Attorney General Kaul Petitions Wisconsin Supreme Court to Take Abortion Case
Feb 27th, 2024 by Wisconsin Department of JusticePetition Argues that, if Applied to Abortion, Wis. Stat. § 940.04 Would Violate the Wisconsin Constitution