Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) released the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) action plan:
“I strongly support the comprehensive action plan laid out by the EPA today to keep our water safe. I repeatedly pushed the Administration to publicly issue its report on water contaminants, including ones used in our community, because it is the most basic matter of public health and safety. Following the release of that study, I support the EPA starting the process to set a maximum contaminant level for these chemicals to keep our water safe. Additionally, I am pleased to see the EPA has begun its process of listing PFOA and PFOS, both found in our community’s water, as hazardous substances. By designating these as hazardous, it will allow for our community to have increased access to federal tools to clean up the groundwater sites where the chemicals have been found. This action plan is a strong step forward for our community to continue to ensure our water is safe.”
Following reporting that the EPA was blocking the release of a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) water contamination study in May of last year, Turner wrote to then-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and the White House calling for an immediate public release of the study. Turner said, “This is not an issue of public relations--this is an issue of public health and safety.”
After hearing from Pruitt that it was in HHS’s authority to release the study, Turner called on HHS Secretary Alex Azar to release it.
In June, a draft of the report was publicly released.
Two of the most common types of PFAS chemicals are Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), both of which have been found in the groundwater of Turner’s district.
###