EPA Unveils Strategic Roadmap to Confront PFAS Contamination
WASHINGTON (October 18, 2021) – EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan today announced the agency’s comprehensive Strategic Roadmap to confront nationwide contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A newly created Council on PFAS will oversee the initiative, ensuring that science, research, and enforcement remain central in addressing these so-called “forever chemicals.”
“I could feel their suffering and frustration with inaction. I knew my job was going to be trying and complex,” said Regan, recalling conversations with communities exposed to PFAS. The roadmap acknowledges mounting evidence that PFAS accumulate in the human body, leading to serious health effects that devastate families.
A History of Delay and Distrust
For more than 50 years, the EPA has been tasked with protecting communities from pollution. Yet, many feel the agency has too often failed to act quickly or boldly. In 2019, under a previous administration, the agency proposed a rule that restricted the types of science used to create regulations, limiting research into pollution’s harmful effects.
PFAS contamination is a prime example of delayed action. Despite two decades of mounting evidence, polluters were rarely held accountable, leaving millions exposed as chemicals built up in water, soil, and the human body.
Currently, chemical manufacturers are not required to conduct health or safety studies, and they can shield data as “confidential.” This lack of transparency prevents scientists from fully studying risks to people and ecosystems, making it harder for regulators to ensure public safety.
A New Path Forward
Administrator Regan framed the roadmap as a reset: “For far too long, families across America – especially those in underserved communities – have suffered from PFAS in their water, their air, and the land their children play on.”
The plan commits to tackling the full life cycle of PFAS with stronger research, monitoring, and enforcement. Key actions include:
- Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): Setting enforceable limits on PFAS in tap water with aggressive deadlines.
- CERCLA (Superfund): Designating PFAS as hazardous substances, enabling cleanup of contaminated sites.
- TSCA: Reviewing past approvals and tightening oversight of PFAS chemicals.
- Research: Completing a toxicity assessment for GenX, a replacement chemical for PFOA.
The roadmap emphasizes community engagement, aiming to rebuild trust by including nonprofit organizations and affected residents in decision-making.
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“PFAS contamination is a public health emergency,” said Stel Bailey of Fight for Zero and co-facilitator of the National PFAS Contamination Coalition. “We need strong, enforceable drinking water standards for every person in this country. The EPA’s plan is a step in the right direction, but it will take more action from Congress, states, and local governments to truly turn off the tap of contamination.”
Communities like Brevard County, Florida, home to multiple PFAS sources from the Department of Defense (DOD) and NASA, are calling for stronger federal action. The DOD, which knew of PFAS risks as early as the 1970s, continued using firefighting foams that polluted waterways, soils, and drinking supplies. Residents demand accountability, not just promises.
Gaps and Challenges Ahead
While the roadmap is expansive, critics argue it falls short in several areas:
- Prevention: The plan does not ban PFAS production or commerce, nor does it impose a moratorium while testing continues.
- Disposal: There are no safe, proven methods for PFAS disposal. The roadmap does not address incineration, landfill, or biosolids deadlines. Wastewater plants are not required to test for PFAS before sludge is applied to farmland.
- Timelines: Some proposed actions are seen as too slow given the scale of the crisis. The EPA acknowledges it cannot solve the issue alone, requiring partnerships across agencies such as the FDA, FAA, and DOD.
Rebuilding Trust
Administrator Regan has made trust-building a central theme:
“Why should we trust the EPA now? So many communities have been let down time and time again. One thing I learned is that trust must be earned, and I know you need to see action. I believe this national strategy demonstrates strong action.”Partnerships with citizen activists and nonprofits will be crucial. Regan praised advocates:
“They made us listen. We learned from them, and we are learning from their experience. They inspire me to never give up and to keep pushing that envelope.”
Looking Ahead
The PFAS Strategic Roadmap marks a turning point for the EPA, but it remains only a first step. Without stronger measures to stop PFAS production, regulate contaminated food, and establish safe disposal methods, many worry that history could repeat itself.
Communities continue to call for zero PFAS pollution in air, water, and soil, an ambitious but necessary goal to protect future generations.
- PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA Roadmap PDF
- PFAS National Contamination Coalition: Learn more