CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN'S PLAN TO ESTABLISH NATIONWIDE STANDARD FOR PFAS IN DRINKING WATER APPROVED BY EPA | Congressman Pat Ryan

CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN'S PLAN TO ESTABLISH NATIONWIDE STANDARD FOR PFAS IN DRINKING WATER APPROVED BY EPA

April 10, 2024
Press Release

Congressman Pat Ryan’s Plan to Establish Nationwide Standard for PFAS in Drinking Water Approved by EPA 

Today the EPA announced the first-ever national standard to address PFAS in drinking water, as called for by Congressman Ryan’s “PFAS Action Act”

Ryan applauds EPA for ruling, $1B in new infrastructure funding, and calls on Congress to pass entirety of his “PFAS Action Act”

WASHINGTON, DC –  Today, following months of advocacy by Congressman Ryan, the EPA announced the first-ever national standard for toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, as required by Ryan’s “PFAS Action Act.” This new rule will require public water systems to monitor and reduce the levels of PFAS in our nation’s drinking water and notify the public of any exceedances of those levels, protecting an estimated 100 million people from PFAS exposure.  Ryan applauded the EPA for the announcement, which includes $1B in new funding for PFAS testing and treatment, and called on Congress to now pass the entirety of his “PFAS Action Act.” Ryan’s bill would limit the amount of PFAS discharge into waterways, fund water treatment for PFAS contamination, and enhance PFAS testing, reporting, and labeling requirements. 

“For months, I’ve been pushing the EPA to establish a nationwide standard for PFAS in drinking water. This new standard, combined with over $1B in new funding for implementation, will reduce PFAS in drinking water to historic lows and protect 100 million Americans, including families in Newburgh and New Windsor, from these toxic ‘forever chemicals,’” said Congressman Pat Ryan, a member of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force. “But we can’t give up the fight. The PFAS Action Act is the most comprehensive PFAS clean-up plan in history, and I’ll keep pushing until every piece of it becomes law.”

As the first-ever Safe Drinking Water Act standard for PFAS – and the first for any new contaminants since 1996 – this rule sets health safeguards and will require public water systems to monitor and reduce the levels of PFAS in our nation’s drinking water, and notify the public of any exceedances of those levels. The rule sets drinking water limits for five individual PFAS, including the most frequently found PFOA and PFOS. Because PFAS can often be found together in mixtures, EPA is also setting a limit for any combination of four PFAS, including GenX Chemicals. This standard will reduce PFAS exposure in our drinking water to the lowest levels that are feasible for effective nationwide implementation.

Congressman Ryan introduced the PFAS Action Act on December 14, 2023, with Congressmembers Debbie Dingell and Brian Fitzpatrick. The PFAS Action Act of 2023 was previously introduced and passed with wide bipartisan support in the House in 2021 but failed to pass in the Senate and be signed into law. The PFAS Action Act takes a robust and comprehensive approach to tackling the wide scope of PFAS contaminations, including by:

  • Requiring the EPA to establish a national drinking water standard for PFAS
  • Assisting schools and childcare facilities in addressing PFAS contamination in drinking water
  • Limiting industrial release of PFAS discharge into waterways
  • Requiring manufacturers to improve reporting on PFAS presence in order to help the EPA identify and mitigate contamination risks
  • Enhancing labeling of PFAS use in household cookware
  • Funding wastewater treatment of PFAS contamination
  • Banning the hazardous incineration of waste containing PFAS
  • Placing a hold on the introduction of new commercial uses for PFAS 
  • Accelerating the EPA’s ability to designate PFAS as hazardous substances and air pollutants

PFAS are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their toxicity and inability to break down in the environment. PFAS exposure has been linked to severe health consequences for humans, including reproductive health issues, developmental delays in children, increased risks for some cancers, compromised immune function, hormonal imbalances, and increased cholesterol and obesity risk, according to the EPA. Humans are most commonly exposed to PFAS through ingestion of contaminated water or food, breathing contaminated air, or use of PFAS-containing items, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The NIEHS also reports that the toxicity levels in humans, the environment, wildlife, and food sources can bioaccumulate over time. Earlier this year, the United States Geological Survey released a stark report that nearly half of the country’s tap water contains at least one of the 32 currently detectable and recognized forms of PFAS. 

Congressman Pat Ryan has prioritized fighting for clean water for Hudson Valley families and against harmful pollutants, particularly spearheading efforts against the emerging threats posed by PFAS contamination. Congressman Ryan cosponsors the Department of Defense PFAS Discharge Prevention Act. He has made repeated calls for the Department of Defense (DoD) to conduct a full report on and cleanup of PFAS contamination at Stewart Air National Guard Base, including joining with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand in calling for the DoD to accelerate its cleanup efforts. Ryan has championed the inclusion of funding for PFAS contamination investigations and clean ups on military bases in the National Defense Authorization Act and sits on the Congressional PFAS Task Force. He is a cosponsor of the Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2023 to increase funding for water pollution reduction programs and infrastructure projects as well as the New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act and the Delaware River Basin Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2023.

Congressman Ryan introduced the “Hudson River Protection Act” to permanently ban barges from anchoring on the Hudson River and polluting the waterway with oil and other toxic materials. Ryan previously led a coalition of local officials and advocates to temporarily halt the Coast Guard’s plan to start allowing barges to anchor in the River.

Congressman Ryan demanded that General Electric conduct a full clean-up of its PCB pollution in the Hudson River and for Holtec to end its plan to discharge radioactive waste into the Hudson River at Indian Point. 

Last summer, when it was reported that telecommunications companies have allowed a network of legacy cabling to leach lead into the environment, Congressman Ryan immediately called for the telecommunications companies to remove the cabling and pay for the clean up. He has continued pressure on the multi-billion dollar corporations Verizon and AT&T and recently gathered local officials and community advocates to call on the companies to publicly disclose the locations of the cables.

Congressman Ryan has taken extensive action to eliminate lead contamination from drinking water in the Hudson Valley, including bringing EPA leadership to Poughkeepsie to assist the city in addressing its lead pipe crisis. Ryan has also secured federal community project funding for significant water infrastructure projects to improve drinking water safety for several Hudson Valley communities, including Middletown, Wappinger, Cornwall-on-Hudson, Millerton, and Warwick.

###