Trump EPA targets Biden’s ‘controversial’ forever chemical standards

Big changes could be coming for regulations impacting the water flowing from your tap.

A major move from the Environmental Protection Agency is sparking debate over rules for certain pervasive chemicals.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals found in countless everyday products.

They’ve been used for decades in manufacturing, appearing in items from non-stick pans to firefighting foam.

Because of their widespread use, these compounds can end up in soil and water supplies.

Setting federal limits on these chemicals has been a complex and debated issue for years.

The previous administration, under President Joe Biden, introduced new rules in 2024.

These rules set specific limits on six types of PFAS in public drinking water for the first time ever.

However, these regulations immediately faced significant pushback.

Industry groups and water utilities raised concerns about the feasibility and immense costs associated with complying.

Water utility associations argued that the required infrastructure upgrades to meet the new standards would be prohibitively expensive.

They warned these costs would likely be passed directly on to consumers through higher water bills.

The chemical industry, represented by groups like the American Chemistry Council, has long maintained that the compounds are safe for their intended uses.

They, along with the water utilities, filed a lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s new rules.

Their legal challenge highlighted procedural issues they saw in how the Biden administration finalized the regulations.

This ongoing legal battle has created uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the new standards.

The Trump administration has reportedly sought delays in this lawsuit, signaling a potential shift in approach.

Now, the Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration has announced its intentions regarding these standards.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin indicated the agency plans to issue new proposals this fall.

These proposals aim to rescind drinking water levels for four specific PFAS chemicals.

They also plan to delay the implementation of limits for two other types of these compounds.

According to an EPA spokesman, Mike Bastasch, the moves are intended to “reducing the burden on drinking water systems and the cost of water bills.”

Bastasch also stated the agency seeks to “ensure that the Agency is following the law in establishing impactful regulations such as these.”

The proposed new rules would extend the compliance deadline for PFOA and PFOS, two older types of PFAS, until 2031.

Additionally, the EPA plans to propose rescinding standards for GenX PFAS types and adjusting the “hazard index mixture” for those and another type, PFBS.

The agency stated this is to “address procedural flaws” identified in the previous administration’s rulemaking process, aligning with the concerns raised by industry and water utilities in their lawsuit.

This approach signals the administration’s focus on balancing environmental regulation with economic considerations and addressing concerns raised by affected stakeholders.

The debate over the best approach to regulating PFAS in drinking water continues.