What the EPA’s partial rollback of limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water means
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What the EPA’s partial rollback of limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water means
The EPA announced plans to weaken limits on some harmful “forever chemicals” The move comes a year after the Biden administration finalized the first-ever national standards. The EPA plans to rescind limits for certain PFAS and lengthen deadlines for two of the most common types. There is also a limit on a mixture of PFAS, which the agency is also planning to rescind.”The law is very clear that the EPA can’t repeal or weaken the drinking water standard,” said Erik Olson, a senior strategist at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “We need more time to deal with the chemicals we are going to need to deal and we need to do it now,” said Mark Smith, the White House’s chief of water policy. “It’s time to get back to business,” he said of the EPA’s decision to rescind the limits. “The time is now” to get rid of the chemicals, Smith said. “This is not the time to back away from the issue” of forever chemicals, he said.
Source: Wusf.org | Read full article
What the EPA’s partial rollback of the ‘forever chemical’ drinking water rule means
EPA announced plans to weaken limits on some harmful “forever chemicals’ in drinking water. The move comes a year after the Biden administration finalized the first-ever national standards. The EPA plans to scrap limits on three types of PFAS, some of which are less well known. There is also a limit on a mixture ofPFAS, which the agency is also planning to rescind. But most utilities face problems with PFOA or PFOS, and the EPA will keep the current limits in place but give utilities two more years — until 2031 — to meet them.. The American Chemistry Council questioned the Obama administration’s underlying science and said the Trump administration had considered the concerns about cost and the underlying science. Some environmental groups argue that the EPA can’t legally weaken the regulations. The Safe Water Drinking Act gives the EPA authority to limit water contaminants, and it includes a provision meant to prevent new rules from being looser than previous ones. But the EPA’s actions only partially address this issue, and more is needed to prevent impacts.
Source: Cochraneeagle.ca | Read full article
Trump officials want to cut limits of Pfas in drinking water – what will the impact be?
Pfas are a class of chemicals often used to make products resistant to water, stains and heat. They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down, and are linked to cancer, liver problems, thyroid issues, birth defects, kidney disease, decreased immunity and other serious health problems. The 2024 Pfas rules marked the first time in 27 years the EPA had put in place new drinking water limits for contaminants. The EPA created limits for six Pfas compounds, and the Trump administration targeted four of those – PFNA, PfHxS, and HFPO dimer acid, more commonly called GenX. However, the water utility and chemical industries have sued to attempt to kill the limits for all 6 Pfas – not just the four covered in yesterday’s announcement. The full impact on those communities is unclear, but the EPA’S plans are ‘right on the bullseye’, said Chemours’ Erik Olson, who is an intervenor on legal action on the issue.
Source: Inkl.com | Read full article
Trump Admin Axes Safeguards Against ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Drinking Water
The Environmental Protection Agency said it would retain maximum contaminant levels for just two of the most notorious compounds from the so-called PFAS class of chemicals. At least 158 million people across the United States have drinking water contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The original rules, imposed by then president Joe Biden’s administration in April 2024, were celebrated as a long-overdue response to decades of industry deception and government inaction. But under the changes announced by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the limits would now apply only to PFOA and PFOS — two legacy chemicals historically used in products such as nonstick Teflon pans, fabric protectors like 3M’s Scotchgard, and firefighting foams. The move was welcomed by water utilities but sharply criticized by advocacy groups. The rollback is likely to face legal challenges.
Source: Inkl.com | Read full article
‘Forever chemicals’ limits delayed as EPA revisits drinking water rules
The EPA is moving to ease limits on certain “forever chemicals’ in drinking water. The move marks a shift from the Biden administration, which set federal drinking water limits for PFAS. More than 158 million Americans have been exposed to PFAS through their drinking water, the EPA says. The EPA is continuing its efforts to tackle PFAS contamination through the “PFAS OUT” initiative. The agency also plans to roll out an exemption process and launch a new outreach program to better support small and rural communities, the agency says.“We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water,” says EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “This retreat by the Trump administration flies in the face of overwhelming evidence that PFAS chemicals in Drinking Water pose numerous health risks.”
Source: San.com | Read full article
What the EPA’s partial rollback of the ‘forever chemical’ drinking water rule means
EPA announced plans to weaken limits on some harmful “forever chemicals’ in drinking water. The move comes a year after the Biden administration finalized the first-ever national standards. The EPA plans to scrap limits on three types of PFAS, some of which are less well known. There is also a limit on a mixture ofPFAS, which the agency is also planning to rescind. But most utilities face problems with PFOA or PFOS, and the EPA will keep the current limits in place but give utilities two more years — until 2031 — to meet them.. The American Chemistry Council questioned the Obama administration’s underlying science and said the Trump administration had considered the concerns about cost and the underlying science. Some environmental groups argue that the EPA can’t legally weaken the regulations. The Safe Water Drinking Act gives the EPA authority to limit water contaminants, and it includes a provision meant to prevent new rules from being looser than previous ones. But the EPA’s actions only partially address this issue, and more is needed to prevent impacts.
Source: Bowenislandundercurrent.com | Read full article
Global Perspectives Summary
Our analysis reveals how this story is being framed differently across global media outlets.
Cultural contexts, editorial biases, and regional relevance all contribute to these variations.
This diversity in coverage underscores the importance of consuming news from multiple sources.
Sources
- Original: What the EPA’s partial rollback of limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water means
- What the EPA’s partial rollback of the ‘forever chemical’ drinking water rule means
- Trump officials want to cut limits of Pfas in drinking water – what will the impact be?
- Trump Admin Axes Safeguards Against ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Drinking Water
- ‘Forever chemicals’ limits delayed as EPA revisits drinking water rules
- What the EPA’s partial rollback of the ‘forever chemical’ drinking water rule means
Source: https://www.wusf.org/environment/2025-05-18/what-the-epas-partial-rollback-of-limits-on-forever-chemicals-in-drinking-water-means