Lawmakers At Odds Over How To Tackle Spread Of Harmful PFAS In Water

"House lawmakers on Wednesday reviewed over a dozen pieces of legislation regarding the spread of harmful nonstick chemicals in drinking water, exposing the lack of agreement on how to deal with the problem.

Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's subcommittee on energy and climate change discussed 13 different approaches to address the growing issue of the chemicals, technically known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The chemicals are used on everything from Teflon pans, food packaging and stain-resistant fabrics, and as they break down they enter the water supply.

The scope of the problem is becoming clearer as a growing number of states — currently 43 — have some sort of PFAS contamination. But it's less clear how the government should address the problem."

Rebecca Beitsch reports for The Hill May 15, 2019.

SEE ALSO:

"Bipartisan Senate Bill Would Set Legal Limit for PFAS Chemicals in Drinking Water" (Environmental Working Group release)

"As PFAS Bills Stack Up, Lawmakers Debate Regulatory Schemes" (E&E Daily)

Source: The Hill, 05/16/2019