Sharing our press statement in reaction to AA Wheeler’s PFAS “Action” Plan.  Also including a link to our explainer page on PFAS: Understanding the chemicals known as ‘PFAS’

WHEELER’S NATIONWIDE PFAS ACTION PLAN FAILS COMMUNITIES

Weak U.S. EPA plan means families will suffer the consequences of PFAS pollution

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Philadelphia, PA — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled its delayed Nationwide Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action Plan.  The plan is too little, too late, and falls short of what is needed to protect communities from a class of chemicals that are polluting drinking water and air, while exposing families, particularly children, to a myriad of health risks, including cancer.

EPA’s Action Plan does not include a commitment to set a drinking water standard even for PFOA and PFOS, two of the original PFAS that even manufacturers agree are dangerous. In turn, it favors corporate coffers over human health and postpones concrete actions. The plan states that so-called short-term actions are expected to be completed within two years, even though people are being poisoned now.

“This is an action plan with no action,” said Earthjustice attorney Suzanne Novak. “Interim Administrator Wheeler just released a long list of initiating steps that EPA should have been doing for the past few years, but no concrete actions. Meanwhile, PFAS are linked to chronic health issues, even death, and are highly unregulated despite a national emergency affecting entire towns. The EPA’s mission is to protect public health and the environment. This plan fails that mission.”

Chemicals in this class of more than 5,000 substances are found in products like nonstick pans, waterproof jackets, and carpets to repel water, grease, and stains. They’re also used in firefighting foam on military bases and in commercial airports. PFAS don’t easily break down, and they persist in your body and in the environment for decades.

"We cannot wait any longer. We need immediately enforceable regulations set for this class of chemicals,” said Joanne Stanton from the Buxmont Coalition for Safer Water, whose Pennsylvania community has suffered the health impacts that they believe are related to the PFAS-contaminated water they drank for years. “The EPA must enforce a rule that protects children, those with compromised immune systems, and the many living in affected areas."  

Some 110 million Americans have been exposed to PFAS through drinking tainted water. Studies in humans with PFAS exposure show that PFAS may affect growth, learning and behavior of infants and older children as well as cause other health issues such as cancer. More than 95 percent of the U.S. population has PFAS in their bodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

RESOURCE:

· Explainer: Understanding the chemicals known as ‘PFAS’

Andrea Delgado

Legislative Director
Healthy Communities
Earthjustice
Pronouns: she/her/hers

T: 202.797.5240

C: 202.230.6592

@ Andrea_Delgado7

From: cdp@groups.b-team.org <cdp@groups.b-team.org> On Behalf Of Andrew Postal
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2019 12:15 PM
Subject: [cdp] CAC RESOURCE: EPA PFAS Decision - Message + Social Guidance

Hi all – please find attached and below CAC message and social guidance responding  to this morning’s EPA decision on PFAS.  Please use this guidance as you see fit, and let us know if you have questions.

CAC MESSAGE GUIDACE: PFAS Decision

Core Message: Despite the overwhelming public demand to take action on PFAS, Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler has again failed to protect the public from dangerous pollution.

• Wheeler’s announcement – that he is planning to develop a plan to address PFAS – is a thinly veiled attempt to buy him and his polluting industry allies more time before concrete action is taken on these dangerous chemicals.
• This dangerous group of chemicals is found in everything from drinking water to food packaging to consumer products to firefighting foams. These are chemicals that have ended up in the drinking water of millions of Americans including newborn babies and is especially prominent in those living on or near military bases.
• Wheeler’s “nationwide plan” comes seven months after the EPA promised to address these dangerous chemicals. And in a potential conflict of interest, Wheeler’s plan for a plan was developed under the direction of David Dunlap, a former Koch Industries official now at the EPA, who has not disclosed how the process he is overseeing will cost his former employer, who has been tied to the toxic chemicals.
• PFAS are known as “forever chemicals,” meaning they don’t break down naturally in the environment and can stay in our bodies for up to eight years. And they have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, weakened childhood immunity, and other serious health problems.
• While Wheeler is buying time for polluters, states are taking action. At least 12 states are moving forward to reduce or eliminate these chemicals by considering bills that range from more PFAS disclosure to bans on PFAS in food packaging, firefighting foam, and flame retardants.
• Members of Congress also are introducing bills to expand PFAS monitoring, to ban some PFAS uses, and to set tough cleanup standards, among other priorities.
• But the fact is that EPA action would be the most efficient and effective way to protect Americans from PFAS. Wheeler’s non-action today fits the pattern the former coal lobbyist has established of putting polluters first on everything from carbon pollution to mercury to PFAS.
• We need an EPA Administrator that will uphold the agency’s mission to protect our health and environment, not a coal industry lobbyist doling out favors to his industry friends paid for with our health and our lives.

SOCIAL GUIDANCE:

• READ: @SenatorCarper calls @EPAAWheeler’s plan to ensure all Americans have clean drinking water “insufficiently protective.” We agree. #StopWheeler https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/2/epa-fails-to-commit-to-setting-a-drinking-water-standard-for-pfas
• We need action on #PFAS contamination, but “it has taken the EPA nearly a year just to kick the can even further down the road.” - @SenatorCarper on ex-coal lobbyist @EPAAWheeler dragging his feet to clean up our water. #StopWheeler https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/2/epa-fails-to-commit-to-setting-a-drinking-water-standard-for-pfas
• Millions of Americans are affected by dangerous chemicals in their drinking water. We don’t need your empty promises @EPAAWheeler – we need action. Stop slow-walking plans to protect us. #StopWheeler https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/epa-chief-andrew-wheeler-calls-toxic-chemicals-drinking/story?id=61004327
• Scott Pruitt called #PFAS contamination a “national emergency” last year and never moved to fix it. We need deeds not words, @EPAAWheeler. #StopWheeler https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/epa-chief-andrew-wheeler-calls-toxic-chemicals-drinking/story?id=61004327
• Ex-coal lobbyist @EPAAWheeler is putting polluters first by dragging his feet on committing to set a limit on #PFAS contamination that makes our drinking water toxic. A work plan won’t cut it – we need decisive action. #StopWheeler https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/epa-chief-andrew-wheeler-calls-toxic-chemicals-drinking/story?id=61004327
• Don’t be fooled: ex-coal lobbyist @EPAAWheeler is dragging his feet to clean up our drinking water. #StopWheeler https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/epa-chief-andrew-wheeler-calls-toxic-chemicals-drinking/story?id=61004327
• .@EPAAWheeler forces through rollbacks to our country’s most important health safeguards, but is stalling when it comes to our right to clean drinking water. Shameful. #StopWheeler https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/epa-chief-andrew-wheeler-calls-toxic-chemicals-drinking/story?id=61004327

• .@EPAAWheeler’s “Action Plan” on #PFAS contamination allows him to drag his feet on cleaning up our drinking water while pushing through the rest of his toxic agenda at full speed. #StopWheeler https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/14/epa-chemical-plan-1174120

###

Thank you,

Andrew Postal

Communications Manager

Climate Action Campaign

(805) 390-3684

apostal@cacampaign.com

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