office in charge of reviewing toxic chemicals tampered with the assessments of dozens of chemicals to make them appear safer. In recent days, whistle-blowers have alleged in the Intercept that the E.P.A. in 2011 approved the use of these chemicals, used to ease the flow of oil from the ground, despite the agency’s own grave concerns about their toxicity, according to the documents, which were reviewed by The New York Times. As the founder and co-chair of the PFAS bipartisan task force, Kildee has previously introduced legislation to set a national drinking water standard for PFAS, clean-up efforts and detect PFAS contamination at other sites across the country.“For much of the past decade, oil companies engaged in drilling and fracking have been allowed to pump into the ground chemicals that, over time, can break down into toxic substances known as PFAS - a class of long-lasting compounds known to pose a threat to people and wildlife - according to internal documents from the Environmental Protection Agency. House of Representatives, Republicans and Democrats passed the PFAS Action Act, but this important legislation is being blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Trump Administration, who continue to side with corporate polluters over protecting public health.”Ĭongressman Kildee has worked with Republicans and Democrats at all levels of government to address PFAS chemical contamination. Many communities, including Oscoda in my district as well as others across the country, are waiting for real action. “Sadly, the Trump Administration and the EPA have largely given lip-service to cleaning up PFAS chemicals. “The American people deserve immediate action by the Trump Administration to protect public health and address toxic PFAS chemicals,” Congressman Kildee said. House of Representatives has passed important legislation to address PFAS chemicals, including the PFAS Action Act, President Trump has threatened to veto this bipartisan legislation.Ī report card released and prepared by Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, details EPA’s failure to meet the commitments it set for itself a year ago, thus requiring Congressional action. The EPA has approved the manufacture of at least 15 new PFAS in the past three years under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), but a TSCA rule first proposed in 2015 that limits new, harmful uses of PFAS has still not been finalized.
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