The environmental agencies of New Mexico, North Carolina, and New Jersey have petitioned the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to add four particular per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) under the Clean Air Act in an attempt to reduce air emissions from these “forever chemicals.”
Water used for drinking becomes contaminated as a result of PFAS air pollutants’ effects on soil, groundwater, and surface water.
According to the states’ appeal to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, “the unregulated nature of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) as air pollutants is a tremendous concern in our States and across the U.S.”
According to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ), the state environmental agencies are asking that the chemical compounds perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and HFPO dimer acid (GenX) be regulated under the Clean Air Act, Section 112.
In the press release, NC DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser stated, “The EPA has been proactive in addressing PFAS and supporting efforts to address PFAS contamination in our states.” “By including these persistent compounds in the list of pollutants subject to regulation, we close a legal loophole and can address air emissions, a crucial aspect of the PFAS life cycle.”
The petitioning states provided evidence in their plea that PFAS emissions standards are required to stop the spread of harmful chemical pollution.
According to the news release, James Kenney, the secretary of New Mexico’s environment department, “we cannot afford to transfer these toxic pollutants to our air with EPA’s bold actions to clean-up of forever chemicals from our water and land.” “To prevent these harmful chemicals from being consumed by our communities or inhaled, we must respond swiftly and comprehensively.”
The goal of the EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap is to address PFAS emissions, which includes determining whether to categorize the chemical compounds as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) under the Office of Air and Radiation.
Shawn M. LaTourette, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection for New Jersey, stated in the press release that “we must reduce PFAS pollution that flows through our waters, upon our land, and into our air in order to best protect Americans from exposure to the toxic PFAS forever chemicals that have poisoned our environment.”
PFAS pollution from PFAS manufacturing facilities or military-released firefighting foam has affected all three of the petitioning states.
“The effects of PFAS-related water contamination have been felt by communities across the nation, including air pollution releases that affected thousands of private drinking water wells near the Chemours Fayetteville Works facility in North Carolina,” the NC DEQ stated.
PFAS, a group of around 15,000 man-made chemicals, are mostly utilized to create products that are grease, stain, and water resistant. They have been linked to a number of serious health problems, including kidney illness, cancer, lowered immunity, and birth deformities. The hazardous substances are referred to as “forever chemicals” as the environment cannot naturally decompose them.
According to the news release, “the petitioning States have presented the necessary evidence that PFAS are air pollutants and are causing adverse effects to human health or adverse environmental effects.”