EPA proposes to enable states to require ‘forever chemical’ cleanup, giving substances ‘hazardous’ label

By Rachel Frazin | The Hill | February 2, 2024

Read the full article by Rachel Frazin (The Hill)

"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to designate nine toxic “forever chemicals” as “hazardous constituents” under the nation’s law for cleaning up ongoing pollution, in a move that would enable states to require cleanups if the substances are released.

As part of an effort to limit contamination stemming from the class of toxic substances, also called PFAS, New Mexico wrote them into a permit that regulated emissions from the Cannon Air Force Base in 2018.

The military pushed back, suing in 2019 and saying it could not include these chemicals in its permit since they were not regulated at the federal level."