WASHINGTON, DC – This week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a legislative hearing on multiple bills to address toxic perfluorinated compounds (PFAS). U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) has led numerous bipartisan bills to address the widespread public health and environmental threat caused by PFAS chemicals. Ann Arbor Water Utility Manager Brian Steglitz will testify on contamination at the city’s water treatment plant has experienced and efforts to respond.
On Wednesday, May 15 at 10:30 am, the Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, “Protecting Americans at Risk of PFAS Contamination & Exposure.” Information for this hearing, including the full witness list, legislation, testimony, and a live webcast, will be posted HERE as they become available.
“Michigan has been hit hard by PFAS—but this is a growing nationwide threat. Congress is serious about ridding this hazardous chemical from our drinking water, firefighting foams, consumer products, food, and the air we breathe. This week’s hearing will be an important step by Congress to respond to the dangers and help begin the cleaning up process at contaminated sites,” said Dingell. “Americans are exposed to PFAS chemicals everyday but some communities are experiencing greater levels of contamination than others, like Ann Arbor, Huron River watershed, and current and former military bases across Michigan. The EPA and the federal government has not done their part to keep our communities safe – the time is now for Congress to act.”
Recent reporting has shown there is an expanding PFAS contamination crisis in Michigan and across the country. PFAS chemicals have been linked to liver disease, thyroid dysfunction, and several forms of cancer. These chemicals have continued to show up in drinking water and communities, especially near military facilities, commercial airports, and manufacturing sites. With over 192 sites contaminated, Michigan has the most contaminated sites in the United States.
Dingell leads efforts in Congress to combat and address PFAS contamination. She led the introduction of The PFAS Action Act which would simply require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to list all PFAS chemicals, including PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals, as hazardous substances under the Superfund clean-up program within one year.
Dingell is an original cosponsor on these pieces of PFAS legislation:
- The PFAS Federal Facility Accountability Act of 2018, would urge federal agencies to cooperate with States as PFAS contamination is detected in communities near federal installations such as active military installations, former military installations, or National Guard facilities. The bill will facilitate testing, monitoring, removal, and remediation when these chemicals are detected in the water and soil. Federal agencies would be required to come up with a plan of action with affected States within one year of a request from the state.
- The PFAS Detection Act of 2019, would provide the U.S. Geological Survey with $45 million to develop new advanced technologies to detect PFAS and then to conduct nationwide sampling for PFAS in the environment.
- The Toxic PFAS Control Act, would regulate PFAS under TSCA; it is based on how we handled PCBs back in the 70s—which took explicit Congressional action to ban PCBs; and it begins a phaseout of all PFAS, and it requires EPA to regulate disposal of PFAS.
- The PFAS Waste Incineration Ban Act of 2019, requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prohibit the incineration of firefighting foam that contains PFAS. Additionally, the bill would require EPA to identify other wastes that contains PFAs and to also prohibit their incineration.
- The Prevent Release of Toxic Emissions, Contamination and Transfer (PROTECT) Act of 2019, would help the EPA in this mission by adding PFAS chemicals to the list of hazardous air pollutants under Section 112b under the Clean Air Act.
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