Walz oversaw a PFAS crackdown. What would that mean for a Harris admin?

By Miranda Willson and Ellie Borat | E&E News | August 9, 2024

Read the full article by Miranda Willson and Ellie Borat (E&E News)

“Minnesota last year enacted a sweeping ban on toxic ‘forever chemicals’ considered one of the most aggressive worldwide.

Now, the man who signed that PFAS ban into law and is overseeing its implementation could end up in the White House. That’s fueling hope among some public health advocates that Tim Walz’s presence on the Democratic ticket could influence PFAS policies nationwide.

‘The Minnesota law really is the most protective in the country, and maybe even in the world, at this point,’ said Gretchen Salter, strategic adviser at the environmental health organization Safer States. ‘Knowing there [could be] someone in the White House who’s been so close with people who’ve been fighting these issues is really hopeful for us.’

Walz — whom Vice President Kamala Harris tapped as her running mate this week — is intimately familiar with the health risks and environmental consequences of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, according to those who’ve worked with him on the issue."

This content provided by the PFAS Project.