Shaheen Announces Pilot PFAS Study at Pease to Move Forward
**Shaheen Fought for Pease to Serve as a Model Site for Nationwide PFAS Health Impact Study**
**Shaheen Successfully Established the First-Ever PFAS Water Contamination Study in 2018 Defense Bill**
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced today that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved a pilot study at Pease International Tradeport to examine the health implications related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure. Senator Shaheen has led efforts in Congress to uncover the potential health impact of emerging contaminants in water supplies, and in the 2018 NDAA, established the first-ever nationwide health study on the impacts of PFAS in drinking water. Shaheen fought for Pease International Tradeport to be included, and because of her efforts, Pease will serve as a model site through this pilot study for the nationwide PFAS health study. Now that this major administrative hurdle has been cleared, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will begin logistical and planning efforts to implement the study, which will begin this fall.
“This has been a long time coming for our families in New Hampshire who’ve been impacted by PFAS contamination and for our community activists who’ve tirelessly fought for meaningful action in response to their exposure,” said Senator Shaheen. “This is an important step forward in our broader efforts to combat PFAS contamination and to ensure Granite Staters have confidence in the safety of their drinking water. I’ll keep fighting for dedicated research and resources to uncover the health impact of PFAS exposure, to remediate contaminated sites, and ultimately, to get this hazardous chemical out of our environment and away from our families.”
“I’m very pleased that the Pease health study has received the final approval. The Pease community has been working towards a PFAS health study for years and this is a critical next step in advancing the science and bringing answers to those impacted,” said Andrea Amico, Co-Founder of Testing for Pease. “We are extremely grateful to Senator Shaheen and her staff for their tireless efforts to make this study a reality for the Pease community. The results of this study will benefit millions of Americans exposed to PFAS contaminated drinking water. I am proud that the Pease community continues to lead the nation in action on PFAS. Unfortunately, PFAS is a national health issue impacting so many Americans. We will continue to lead the way in advocating for action and answers for those exposed to PFAS.”
Senator Shaheen has spearheaded efforts in Congress to uncover the potential health effects related to PFAS contamination, respond to the chemical exposure and remediate polluted sites. The Senate-passed defense bill includes a significant package of legislation, cosponsored by Shaheen, aimed at combating PFAS exposure. This PFAS package includes Shaheen’s bipartisan legislation with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), the Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act, which would expedite analysis of water contaminants like PFAS and provide support and resources to states dealing with the health challenges posed by these potentially harmful materials. Shaheen also successfully added her legislation with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to the defense bill that would confront occupational exposure to PFAS— the Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act. The bipartisan bill would require the Department of Defense to include blood testing for PFAS as part of routine physicals for military firefighters. Shaheen and Murkowski previously called on federal health agencies to prioritize studies on the health effects of firefighters exposed to PFAS.
Additionally, Shaheen secured a provision that would ban the Department of Defense from procuring firefighting foam that contains PFAS after October 1, 2022 and would prohibit its use in the military after October 1, 2023. Shaheen also successfully authorized $10 million to continue the PFAS health impact study she established in the FY2018 NDAA. Shaheen has repeatedly secured the necessary authorization and funding to implement the study.
