Silent Spring Institute awarded $1M to study health impacts of PFAS in drinking water
26 Sep 2019 | The Barnstable Patriot
The team plans to collect blood samples from 1,000 adults and 300 children in two communities in Eastern Massachusetts—Hyannis and Ayer—where public drinking water supplies have been contaminated by PFAS from the use of firefighting foams at nearby fire training areas.
Peters' resolution to phase out PFAS in fire fighting foam passes Senate
25 Sep 2019 | WKZO AM/FM
The unanimously passed resolution is calling for the final National Defense bill sent to the President to include a provision prohibiting the Department of Defense from using firefighting foams containing PFAS by the end of 2023.
Wisconsin residents concerned over PFAS contamination on farm fields
24 Sep 2019 | Wisconsin Public Radio
The meeting, held by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, was the first in a series of six listening sessions on contamination resulting from PFAS. The agency considers the largest source of contamination to have spread from firefighting foam used at Tyco Fire Product's fire training facility.
Trump threatens to veto first ever Congressional Action on ‘forever chemicals’
22 Sep 2019 | Truthout
President Trump has threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act if it contains current amendments that would protect soldiers — and surrounding communities — impacted by the U.S. military’s use of PFAS-laden firefighting foam. Congress has until early October to submit an agreed-upon, merged bill to the president.
3M to halt production of undisclosed chemicals at Decatur plant
19 Sep 2019 | to WHNT News 19
3M indicated in a statement to to WHNT News 19: "we have elected to temporarily idle certain manufacturing processes. We will resume these processes as soon as practicable.”
New California law represents strategic shift in PFAS regulation
19 Sep 2019 | Law 360
A.B. 756 provides the State Water Resources Control Board, a powerful state agency with broad regulatory authority over water quality, the power to force all public water systems to monitor their water supplies for PFAS, and to alert consumers if such chemicals exceed specific levels set by the board.
New science on PFAS chemicals should mobilize our senators
19 Sep 2019 | The Fayetteville Observer
A peer-reviewed study, published this month in the prestigious Chemical Engineeri Journal, found short-chain PFAS chemicals, like GenX, are more widely detected, more persistent, and more mobile than long-chain PFAS chemicals they were designed to replace--such as PFOA and PFOS... This is profound news considering PFAS chemical makers, like Chemours, continue to claim GenX and other short-chain PFAS are safer replacements.
EPA allowed companies to make 40 new PFAS chemicals despite serious risks
19 Sep 2019 | The Intercept
Despite their dangers, at least 15 of these 40 PFAS compounds that were the subject of substantial risk reports are not only on the most recent list of compounds in active use but also are produced in very large quantities.
EPA refuses to promise federal limit on PFOA exposure
18 Sep 2019 | Times Union
David Ross, assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Water, could not promise that a [PFAS] maximum contamination level would definitely be set until their evaluation is complete... But a decision on setting a federal standard should be made before the end of the year.
Microbe chews through PFAS and other tough contaminants
18 Sep 2019 | phys.org
The researchers were very encouraged to see these bacteria [Acidimicrobium bacterium A6] substantially degrade the famously recalcitrant class of chemicals but cautioned that more work was needed before reaching a workable treatment.
Chemical company execs come under fire at congressional hearing on PFAS
18 Sep 2019 | North Carolina Health News
For the first time, executives from Chemours, DuPont and 3M were called before a U.S. House environmental oversight committee to discuss their accountability in the PFAS contamination plaguing North Carolina and the country.
DuPont looks to kill $4B chemours liability-offloading suit
18 Sep 2019 | Law 360
DuPont is asking a court to end a $4 billion suit by spinoff Chemours over ballooning environmental liabilities.
EPA awards $6M to research potential environmental impacts of PFAS waste streams
17 Sep 2019 | WaterWorld
Research will expand the understanding of the environmental risks posed by PFAS in waste streams and identify practical approaches to manage the potential impacts as PFAS enters the environment.
The Home Depot to stop selling carpet containing PFAS
17 Sep 2019 | MLive
The Home Depot will be phasing out PFAS December 31, 2019 in the U.S. and Canada in carpets and rugs.
Defense Department says "forever chemical" cleanup costs will dwarf earlier estimates
17 Sep 2019 | The Hill
Military leaders said Thursday that “forever chemical” contamination costs are likely to surpass their original $2 billion estimate as Congress works to push the Department of Defense (DOD) to clean up contaminated water across the country.