Trump administration stalled a survey of PFAS in wastewater, former EPA officials say
Summary
The Trump administration delayed a survey meant to find out which industries release harmful PFAS chemicals through wastewater. This survey was first sent for approval nearly two years ago during the Biden administration but has not yet been approved, slowing efforts to regulate these chemicals.Key Facts
- PFAS are man-made chemicals linked to cancer, developmental problems in children, and vaccine resistance.
- Many wastewater treatment plants release PFAS because they cannot fully remove these chemicals from the water.
- The EPA planned a nationwide survey of wastewater treatment plants to identify major sources of PFAS pollution.
- This survey was submitted to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval in October 2024.
- The approval process has taken much longer than normal, with no clear explanation.
- The Trump administration kept some strong PFAS water limits but delayed other important PFAS regulations, especially concerning wastewater from chemical manufacturers.
- EPA officials say good data on PFAS pollution in industrial wastewater is hard to get without this survey.
- The delay could slow work on creating new rules to limit PFAS pollution and protect public health.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
