From Wateronline.com. Full story here The White House has reportedly taken steps to diminish a rule proposed by the U.S. EPA to curb the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), one of the country’s most prevalent and contentious drinking water contaminants. According to communications between the White House and EPA, the former stepped in … Read more
from ASDWA: On May 15th, the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) submitted a joint letter of recommendations to EPA on developing risk communication messages for states and water systems to use when communicating with their customers and the public about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). … Read more
from ASDWA.org: The US House of Representatives has passed a $3 trillion coronavirus aid bill that includes a moratorium on disconnecting or terminating service from a utility, including water and sewer, for nonpayment. The latest coronavirus relief package, H.R. 6800, or the HEROES Act, includes funding for individual stimulus, assistance to state and local governments, … Read more
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) this week expressed its support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to move forward on regulating two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and urged the agency to use the best available science to evaluate a drinking water standard. AWWA submitted its comments in response to EPA’s proposal … Read more
The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators has published a list of frequently asked questions and responses for water suppliers and consumers regarding SAR-COVID-19 which found here. Other resources for water suppliers are also available on the page.
https://www.statehousenews.com/news/2020468 Emergency Change Permits Remote Public Meetings Baker Order Applies to State and Local Bodies Michael P. Norton 3/12/20 9:19 PM MARCH 12, 2020…..In a significant change spurred by the spreading coronavirus, government boards in Massachusetts may now meet without a physical quorum of members present and without affording public access to the physical meeting … Read more
from ASDWA.org 1/14/2020 Late last week the House passed H.R.535 – the PFAS Action Act of 2019. The bill contains multiple provisions requiring EPA to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in the environment including: Determining whether EPA should designate the entire class of PFAS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, … Read more
Section 7321 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (P.L. 116-92) (NDAA) added certain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to the TRI list of reportable chemicals. Among these added chemicals are chemicals that met two criteria: (1) they were subject to a significant new use rule at either 40 CFR 721.9582 or … Read more
FROM EPA, PRESS RELEASE: 01/07/2020 Contact Information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov) WASHINGTON (Jan. 7, 2020) — Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Under President Trump, EPA is continuing to aggressively implement our PFAS Action Plan – the most comprehensive cross-agency plan ever to address … Read more
from MWWA.org On December 13, 2019 Governor Baker signed a supplemental budget that included line-item funding for PFAS initiatives: 2250-2002.. For the testing of potential per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination of water supplies and for grants to support treatment and design of affected drinking water systems; provided, that nothing in this item shall preclude … Read more