Senator Agard Applauds Biden Administration PFAS Regulations

MADISON – Today, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) announced new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulations – requiring chemical manufacturers to test and report the amount of PFAS that is contained in household items. Additionally, the EPA announced additional long term goalposts for addressing PFAS including: safe legal limits for drinking water, designating PFAS as a hazardous substance, increasing monitoring and research, and requiring the Department of Defense to review how to clean up PFAS contamination at hundreds of military and National Guard installations. The Biden Administration says this is a first step towards reducing their presence in drinking water across America.

Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement regarding the announcement today:

“Water is life – everyone deserves access to clean, drinkable water. The steps taken by the EPA and the Biden administration today to address PFAS poisoned water are important steps towards making sure that all Americans have access to safe drinking water.

“It is refreshing to see the Biden administration also put forth long term goalposts for PFAS, including: drinking water standards, designating PFAS as a hazardous substance, increasing monitoring and research of PFAS, having the Department of Defense to review how to clean PFAS contamination at nearly 700 military and National Guard bases, and holding corporations accountable.

“It is past time that we take PFAS contamination seriously. I am pleased that the federal government is making this a priority as Republican leaders in Wisconsin refuse to take lifesaving action, whether in the state budget or in the legislative process. These changes at the federal level are welcome, however, we must also take action through the Wisconsin state legislature as well to ensure our local communities are getting the help they need to mitigate the effects we are feeling in our own state. Wisconsin still has the opportunity to be the gold standard for water quality – through passing the CLEAR Act. In Wisconsin, we can and should be national leaders on environmental protections.

“We can no longer allow dangerous chemicals like PFAS to contaminate and ruin our waterways and water sources.”

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.