Zeldin to head EPA sparking debate over PFAS regulation and industry influence

By Lisa John Rogers | Great Lakes Now | January 30, 2025

Read the full article by Lisa John Rogers (Great Lakes Now)

"On January 29, Lee Zeldin was sworn in as 17th Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During his Senate confirmation hearing, he was asked about many environmental problems that the U.S. is facing. Most notably, the first question was about PFAS pollution. Committee Chairman Sen. Capito (R-WV) asked Zeldin what he would do about the “forever chemicals” problem, and Zeldin noted that he was a member of the PFAS Task Force and also voted for the PFAS Action Act during his former position as New York congressman. Sen. Merkley (D-OR) questioned “paid influencers” in financial disclosures and the $270,000 in oil and gas campaign funding, asking Zeldin if donations like this would influence his role as administrator.

When President Donald Trump took office on January 20, he immediately withdrew plans to set discharge limits to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) effluent pollution. The EPA rule draft was sitting in the regulatory review process and needed the White House to review it, but Trump’s executive order withdrew any of the regulations pending approval from the prior administration.

Meanwhile, two former chemical industry executives are returning to roles within the EPA. Nancy B. Beck, a toxicologist and former executive at the American Chemistry Council, will head the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety. She held a similar role during Trump’s first administration. Lynn Ann Dekleva is an engineer who worked for the American Chemistry Council, and has spent more than three decades at DuPont. She will return to her role as deputy assistant administrator, overseeing new chemicals — a position she held during Trump’s last term."