EPA Lists Two PFAS “Forever Chemicals” as Hazardous Under Superfund Law

WASHINGTON ­- Two toxic "forever chemicals" are now listed as hazardous substances under Superfund law by the Biden administration. The final rule announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) marks the first time since 1980 that the EPA has used its authority under the Superfund law to tag a new contaminant for cleanup.

Additionally, the EPA issued an "enforcement discretion" memo to clarify the agency intends to hold industrial polluters accountable for dumping the two chemicals - known as PFOA and PFOS - into the environment, instead of the drinking water facilities or sewage plants that need to deal with them.

The following is a statement by Erik D. Olson, Senior Strategic Director for Health with NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

"Millions of families across the country are being exposed to toxic 'forever chemicals' from living near contaminated sites that threaten their health. It is time for polluters to pay to clean up the toxic soup they've dumped into the environment. We all learned in kindergarten that if we make a mess, we should clean it up. The Biden Administration's Superfund rule is a big step in the right direction for holding polluters accountable for cleaning up decades of contamination."

Background

PFOA and PFOS are no longer in wide use, but those two chemicals, like all PFAS chemicals, persist in the environment. EPA has determined that no level of exposure to PFOA and PFOS is safe for public health. The EPA has identified 180 Superfund sitescontaminated with PFAS "forever chemicals," and according to data compiled by the Environmental Working Group, there are more than 5,000 sites nationwidethat have been identified as contaminated with PFAS.

Earlier this month, the Biden Administration restricted six toxic PFAS chemicals found in drinking water- including PFOA and PFOS - the first time the EPA has regulated these ubiquitous "forever chemicals" in water. As many as 105 million people in the U.S. get their drinking water from water systems contaminated by the six PFAS chemicals at a level exceeding the standards set by the EPA.

Additional Resources:

EPA Restricts Toxic PFAS "Forever Chemicals" Found In Drinking Water(April 2024)

The Scientific Basis for Managing PFAS as a Chemical Class(June 2020)

PFAS: The Toxic Forever Crisis: NRDC/NPCC video (2023)

Defending the Science on PFAS(February 2021)

The Big Reveal: Hundreds of Health Studies on Next Gen PFAS(April 2021)

NRDC(Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). Visit us at www.nrdc.organd follow us on Twitter @NRDC.

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