On April 27, 2021, new EPA Administrator Michael Regan issued a memorandum calling for the creation of a council composed of senior EPA officials dedicated to addressing nationwide impacts from Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). In the memo, which can be read here, Administrator Regan directs the newly formed EPA Council on PFAS (“ECP”) to:
- Develop “PFAS 2021-2025 — Safeguarding America’s Waters, Air and Land,” a multi-year strategy to deliver critical public health protections to the American public based on EPA’s review of all ongoing actions and development of new strategies and priorities.
- Continue close interagency coordination on regional specific and cross-media issues to assist states, tribes and local communities faced with PFAS challenges.
- Work with all national program offices and regions to maximize the impact of EPA’s funding and financing programs to support cleanup of PFAS pollution, particularly in underserved communities.
- Expand engagement opportunities with federal, state and tribal partners to ensure consistent communications, exchange information and identify collaborative solutions.
As the former Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, a state that has dealt with significant regional PFAS issues, the intense focus on PFAS by Administrator Regan should come as no surprise. Stay tuned for further developments regarding the ECP and development of EPA’s Safeguarding America’s Waters, Air and Land strategy.