EPA plans action to address PFAS, including 'polluter pays'

Trump EPA takes aim at forever chemicals

The Trump administration appears serious about ridding American drinking water of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals," and penalizing polluters. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on Monday that his agency will be taking a suite of actions to address PFAS. "We are tackling PFAS from all of EPA's program offices, advancing research and testing, stopping PFAS from getti…

Maine Awards $3 Million in Grants for Research Supporting Farmers Impacted by "Forever Chemical" Contamination

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) announced on Tuesday $3 million in grants for research supporting farmers impacted by PFAS, or “forever chemical,” contamination. The combined $3 million in grants were awarded to seven different projects, five of which are based out of the University of Maine. For the other two, one [...] The post Maine Awards $3 Million in Grants for Research Supporting Farmers Impacted by “…

State fund helps Oak Park Heights plan for PFAS treatment

A state fund created to help cities that are losing a power plant is helping Oak Park Heights pay for design work on a potential future water treatment facility to remove PFAS from the city’s two wells. In 2028, Oak Park Heights will lose its largest taxpayer when Xcel Energy shutters the Allen S. King power plant. The plant, which employs 77 people, provides 27 percent of the city’s tax base — or about $1.5 million — in 2024, said Jacob Rife, c…

EPA's PFAS plans draw concern in public health circles

Moves by the Trump administration to draw up a new regulatory framework for types of toxic chemicals has sparked suspicion among health advocates who fear the changes will protect polluters but not public health. The concerns come after US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin on Monday rolled out preliminary plans to tackle widespread environmental contamination by per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals us…

EPA to Take Actions Against ‘Forever Chemical’ Pollution

The federal government is taking several actions to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin. Also known as “forever chemicals” because they take so long to break down, PFAS substances have been found in water, air, and soil, and have been detected in humans and animals. “There are thousands of PFAS chemicals, and they are found in many different consumer, com…

“Major” EPA PFAS Announcement Rings Hollow

On Monday, the Trump administration announced what it called “Major PFAS Actions.” This announcement, containing little details, followed an administration filing last Friday requesting to delay a decision in a court case over a major Biden-era action to designate forever chemicals PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Superfund Law, casting doubt on the administration’s intentions to regulate these dangerous chemicals. What’s more, th…