Category: Resources

DOH, Ecology, PFAS

Ecology releases four-year statewide funding strategy for PFAS

John Lovie

PFAS Statewide Funding Strategy: Four-Year Plan for Prevention, Reduction, and Mitigation in Washington State The legislature asked Dept of Ecology, in consultation with Dept of Health, to develop a funding strategy. The current state budget forecast shows a shortfall, so this big budget need arrives in a belt-tightening moment. It doesn’t mean it won’t get funded. The legislature will need to hear from impacted communities about whether they support these strategies, what is most important to do first, and if you think they should do something else instead. Continue reading Ecology releases four-year statewide funding strategy for PFAS

DOH, Ecology, EPA, PFAS

A PFAS Sandwich

John Lovie

At the end of the last update, we were left with three open issues: the Military’s response to the EPA’s new National Drinking Water Standard for PFAS; lawsuits challenging that standard; and testing of private wells with non-military sources of PFAS contamination. The last few months have brought us positive developments on two of these, and negative on the other. I’ll slide the bad news in between two slices of good. Continue reading A PFAS Sandwich

Ecology, EPA, PFAS

Spokane airport (finally) hands its shoes to state regulators

John Lovie

https://tconnor.substack.com/p/fridays-postcard-and-the-spokane Finally…Eighty-three months have passed since PFAS “forever chemicals” were detected in groundwater at Spokane International Airport (SIA). On this timeline—against the backdrop of a years-long cover-up and the airport’s ‘get-off-my-lawn’ blame-shifting —today is significant. For the first time, SIA representatives are meeting with state Department of Ecology officials to begin implementing a cleanup plan for the notorious PFAS water pollution, a task that will likely extend well beyond the nine square miles encompassed by the airport’s boundaries. Continue reading Spokane airport (finally) hands its shoes to state regulators

News, PFAS

‘Not a finish line’: For water providers, new PFAS rule is first step

John Lovie

‘Not a finish line’: For water providers, new PFAS rule is first step | HeraldNet.com The EPA’s new rule only applies to water suppliers that serve 15 or more residents, known as “Group A” water systems. At least 1 million Washington residents have private wells or use smaller water suppliers, called “Group B” systems. The Safe Drinking Water Act doesn’t protect these wells, some of which are near Harrington Lagoon. Those wells also likely have PFAS contamination, Lovie said. “They’re not eligible for any of the loans or grants that Group A water systems can get to take care of … Continue reading ‘Not a finish line’: For water providers, new PFAS rule is first step

News, PFAS

EPA moves to make US polluters pay for cleanup of two forever chemicals

John Lovie

Superfund law requires industries responsible for PFOA and PFOS contamination in water or soil to pay for cleanup EPA moves to make US polluters pay for cleanup of two forever chemicals | US Environmental Protection Agency | The Guardian The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday designated two forever chemicals that have been used in cookware, carpets and firefighting foams as hazardous substances, an action intended to ensure quicker cleanup of the toxic compounds and require industries and others responsible for contamination to pay for their removal. Continue reading EPA moves to make US polluters pay for cleanup of two forever chemicals

EPA, PFAS

PFAS Enforcement Discretion and Settlement Policy Under CERCLA

John Lovie

PFAS Enforcement Discretion and Settlement Policy Under CERCLA | US EPA Memorandum provides direction about how the EPA will exercise its enforcement discretion under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) in matters involving per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances … Continue reading PFAS Enforcement Discretion and Settlement Policy Under CERCLA

EPA, PFAS

Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Critical Rule to Clean up PFAS Contamination to Protect Public Health

John Lovie

EPA action designates two widely used PFAS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, improving transparency and accountability to clean up PFAS contamination in communities Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Critical Rule to Clean up PFAS Contamination to Protect Public Health | … Continue reading Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Critical Rule to Clean up PFAS Contamination to Protect Public Health

PFAS

You Can’t Get Fooled Again

John Lovie

EPA Sprints to Keep PFAS Rules Safe You Can’t Get Fooled Again – by John Lovie – Mostly Water (substack.com) Why the rush? In 2016, the EPA figured that it would have plenty of time during the Hilary Clinton administration to complete rulemaking work started during the Obama administration. It was not to be. One of the projects that languished for the next four years was the development of new rules for PFAS in drinking water and toxic cleanup. But it’s not enough just to complete the rules under the current administration. The Congressional Review Act allows an incoming congress to void … Continue reading You Can’t Get Fooled Again