Shaheen Statement on EPA Health Advisory Levels for PFAS Chemicals
**Shaheen leads efforts in the Senate on PFAS research, established the first-ever nationwide PFAS health impact study in 2018**
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of new lifetime health advisory levels for four types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including PFOA, PFOS, GenX and PFBS. Read the EPA’s announcement in full here.
“As numerous communities and affected families in New Hampshire know all too well, the impact of PFAS exposure in our water supplies is frightening and wholly unacceptable. Every household should have confidence in the safety of the water coming out of their tap. That’s why I’ve prioritized policies in Congress that address PFAS prevention, remediation and research on the health implications for those who’ve been exposed. These new health advisories announced by the EPA are an early step in a critical process to develop national drinking water standards for several of the most prevalent types of PFAS. Ongoing research efforts to understand the full scope of the effects of PFAS exposure are critical for informing our response to PFAS contamination,” said Shaheen. “I fought to establish the PFAS health impact study, and pushed for Pease to be included, to enhance research efforts to deliver long overdue answers to those who’ve been exposed and to better inform medical care. As we get to work on writing the annual defense legislation on the Senate Armed Services Committee this week, I’ll work to ensure continued authorization for the PFAS health impact study and keep working to advance policies that combat these hazardous chemicals.”
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. Senator Shaheen has successfully included continued authorization and funding for the PFAS health impact study that she created in the 2018 defense legislation, which includes a pilot study at Pease. In addition, as a senior member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Shaheen helped secure historic investments in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for New Hampshire in government funding legislation recently signed into law. Congress provided $1.638 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRFs) and $1.126 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund through the fiscal year 2022 government funding bill, including more than $18.6 million to the state to make additional water infrastructure updates. Shaheen led negotiations around the water infrastructure provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure bill that President Biden signed into law in November. This included $10 billion to address PFAS contamination. Last year, Shaheen announced New Hampshire will receive more than $72 million in federal funds from the EPA to improve New Hampshire’s drinking water and wastewater systems, including addressing PFAS and lead in Granite State water supplies.
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