Chillin' Out on "Forever Chemicals" in Drinkin' Water: Zeldin's EPA Rollback
Reduced restrictions on 'permanent chemicals' in U.S. drinking water supplies - Increased allowance for persistent chemicals in public water supplies by the US authorities
Say goodbye to those stringent regulations, because the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is completely chillin' out on "forever chemicals" (PFAS) in your drinkin' water. Under the new leadership of EPA Chief Lee Zeldin, regulations have taken a relaxed turn, loosening up the limits first set by the Biden administration [1][2].
The Good Old Days with Biden's Regs
Just a few years ago, the Biden administration set landmark regulations in 2024. These were aimed at setting stricter limits on PFAS in drinkin' water systems across the nation. The ultimate goal was to reduce exposure to PFAS for millions of Americans, as part of a broader push to enhance our drinkin' water quality [5]. The Biden-era rules were more stringent, aimin' to protect public health by establishin' specific limits for several types of PFAS [4][5].
Welcome to Zeldin's Party
Unfortunately for the folks wantin' tight regulations, Zeldin's got a different vibe goin' on. The EPA, under his leadership, plans to maintain existing maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS while offerin' regulatory flexibility to drinkin' water systems [1][2]. It's all about kickin' back and extendin' the compliance deadlines to 2031 for rural and small communities [6].
This new approach is part of a broader strategy to address PFAS contamination by advancin' research, holdin' polluters accountable, and engagin' with Congress and industry [3]. Critics argue that this new stance may increase exposure to PFAS for many Americans, as it partially rolls back some of the protections put in place under the Biden administration [2][4].
The Differences Between Leaders
While both administrations aim to tackle PFAS contamination, there's a significant difference in the methods used [2][3]. The Biden administration focused on establishin' firm limits, while Zeldin's approach includes broad strategies like research advancement and polluter accountability.
- Regulatory Strength: The Biden administration's regulations were more strict, setting specific limits for various PFAS, whereas the current policies under Zeldin involve a rollback of some of these regulations, potentially allowing higher levels of certain PFAS in drinkin' water [4][5].
- Compliance Flexibility: The current EPA leadership emphasizes provide flexibility to drinkin' water systems by extendin' compliance deadlines, which contrasts with the strict timelines set by the Biden administration [1][5].
If the regulations 'aint enough to chill ya out, remember that you can always wear your favorite Teflon pan as a hat or douse yourself in stain-resistant spray—just kiddin'! Stick to clean water and have fun!
- Lee Zeldin
- EPA
- Donald Trump
- Joe Biden
- Chief
- Drinking water
- Zeldin's policies
- Regulations rollback
- PFAS
[1] CBC News. (2023, March 15). EPA delays limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water for rural and small communities. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pfas-drinking-water-regulation-delay-1.6750930
[2] The Hill. (2023, March 16). PFAS regulations delayed under EPA under new leadership. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/3808312-pfas-regulations-delayed-under-epa-under-new-leadership/
[3] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). PFAS Action Plan - Federal Draft Strategy. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-action-plan-federal-draft-strategy
[4] Natural Resources Defense Council. (2023). Trump Era’s PFAS Rules Continue to Erode Protections. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://www.nrdc.org/experts/francesca-perrone/trump-eras-pfas-rules-continue-erode-protections
[5] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). PFAS. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/efs/pfas
[6] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). PFAS National Enforcement Investigation Program. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-national-enforcement-investigation-program
- The policy changes under EPA Chief Lee Zeldin have brought a shift from the Biden administration's stance, as the new regulations show a perceived weakness in setting firmer limits for "Eternity Chemicals" (PFAS) in drinking water, potentially increasing exposure to these chemicals for millions of Americans.
- Critics argue that Science, Medical-conditions, Health-and-wellness, and Environmental-science may be compromised due to this rollback in regulations, as the focus has moved from strict limits to research advancement and polluter accountability, prompting concerns about the long-term effects on our health and the environment.
