North Carolina Could Be One of the First States Hit with EPA Retreat on Water Standards
The Trump Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week faced a key court deadline for defending federal drinking water limits for toxic “forever chemicals” (PFAS) from industry assaults—and it blinked. If its surrender to big polluter lobbying holds up in court, North Carolina will be one of the first states to suffer the results.
Instead of fighting to maintain the first federal drinking water standards for these toxic long-lasting chemicals, Trump’s EPA is headed the opposite direction. They are trying to let big polluters off the hook even though they’re the ones who unleashed these toxins into our water supplies in the first place. EPA’s retreat includes scrapping limits on three types of PFAS, including what are known as GenX substances found in North Carolina, as well as a limit on a mixture of several types of PFAS.
The Need for Clean Water Standards
As a reminder, the Biden EPA set those limits on PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) because the scientific evidence showed these toxic chemicals increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and babies being born with low birth weight.
League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Healthy Communities Program Director Madeleine Foote blasted the EPA retreat. “Trump promised the ‘cleanest air and cleanest water’ on the campaign trail, but this outrageous announcement to weaken protections against toxic PFAS chemicals in our drinking water demonstrates this was just another empty promise,” declared Foote. EPA’s “hypocritical actions show that they are putting Big Polluters and corporations above the health of our families. These limits must be reinstated and strengthened to truly make America healthy again and protect our communities, environment, and future generations.”
The Fight for Clean Water
Clean water advocates around the country will fight back in court against EPA’s abandonment of its responsibility to protect public health. “More than 100 million people are drinking water contaminated with ‘forever chemicals,’ which can cause cancer, harm fetuses and kids, and pose other health hazards. But now the administration is going to toss out most of these long-sought protections and allow this contamination to continue unabated all at the behest of the chemical industry and water utilities,” said Eric D. Olson, senior strategic director of health at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
“With this action, the EPA is making clear that it’s willing to ignore Americans who just want to turn on their kitchen taps and have clean, safe water. The EPA’s plan to retain but delay standards for two legacy ‘forever chemicals’ may offer modest consolation to some, but throwing out protections against four others will be devastating. The law is very clear that the EPA can’t repeal or weaken the drinking water standard. This action is not only harmful, it’s illegal.”
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