EWG Applauds Passage of Amendment to Restrict PFAS Pollution into Drinking Water Supplies

WASHINGTON - Today, EWG applauded the House passage of an amendment authored by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) to limit industrial discharges of fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS into drinking water supplies.

The House passed the Pappas amendment to a must-pass defense spending bill, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2020.

"Thanks to Rep. Pappas’ leadership, we are one step closer to limiting discharges of PFAS pollution into drinking water supplies,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s Vice President for Government Affairs.

PFAS are toxic “forever chemicals” that contaminate the drinking water of millions of Americans, but manufacturers can discharge unlimited amounts of PFAS directly into drinking water supplies.

EWG recently found at least 475 industrial facilities that could be discharging PFAS into the water.

Rep. Pappas’ amendment to the NDAA will require polluters to meet environmental standards before releasing PFAS into water supplies or sending PFAS to publicly owned water treatment plants.

“It’s time for Congress to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate industrial discharges of PFAS,” Faber said. “Today, thanks to Rep. Pappas, Congress has taken a step closer to reducing one of the biggest sources of PFAS pollution.”

Other PFAS amendments to the NDAA will be voted on tomorrow, including amendments to designate PFAS as hazardous substances under CERCLA and end military use of PFAS in fire-fighting foam and food packaging.

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