Shaheen Welcomes Drinking Water Advisory Standards from Environmental Protection Agency

(Washington, DC) – Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) welcomes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of updated lifetime drinking water health advisory standards for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) at 70 parts per trillion, issued today. Shaheen called EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy in April to discuss the elevated levels of the chemical PFOA detected in multiple New Hampshire communities. During the call, Shaheen urged Administrator McCarthy for the quick release of the long-term health advisory standards.

“Making sure that citizens throughout New Hampshire have access to clean, reliable drinking water is critical for public health,” said Shaheen. “I am glad to see the EPA has released its updated long-term health advisory standards. These new standards will help New Hampshire officials address water quality more directly and aggressively to ensure that Granite State communities have safe drinking water.”

The long-term health advisory standards will be used by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to guide the state standard for enforcement and testing in wells throughout the state, including in southern New Hampshire where PFOA contamination has been found.