# EPA’s “Forever Chemicals” Plan Draws Scrutiny: Is It Action or Delay?

## EPA’s “Forever Chemicals” Plan Draws Scrutiny: Is It Action or Delay?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled a new plan to tackle the pervasive issue of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” substances once widely used in everyday products like non-stick pans and water-resistant fabrics. These chemicals have been linked to a range of health problems, including cancer, reproductive issues, and liver damage. However, the details released by the EPA have left health and environmental advocates questioning the effectiveness of the plan, wondering whether it represents genuine progress or merely postpones meaningful action.

The agency’s announcement includes intentions to conduct further research on PFAS and to develop stricter guidelines to limit pollution from manufacturers. This announcement follows a period during which the EPA, under previous administrations, rolled back numerous environmental protections. Crucially, the agency has not yet confirmed whether it will enforce existing limits on PFAS levels in drinking water. Moreover, it remains unclear whether the EPA will defend a Biden-era rule classifying the two most common PFAS forms as hazardous chemicals, prioritizing them for cleanup under the Superfund law.

This lack of clarity has raised concerns among advocates. Mary Grant, a campaign director at Food & Water Watch, expressed skepticism, stating, “It just feels like it offered a lot of words without saying anything. It reminds me so much of the previous administration, where they had PFAS roadmap after PFAS roadmap without actually taking any steps to really move the needle.”

PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” due to their environmental persistence and ability to accumulate in the human body, have been used for decades in a wide array of products, including non-stick cookware, food packaging, firefighting foams, fabric protectors, dental floss, and menstrual products. While some major companies have pledged to discontinue PFAS usage following numerous lawsuits, the damage is already done. Studies show that PFAS have contaminated at least 45 percent of the nation’s tap water and are present in the bloodstreams of the majority of Americans.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin acknowledged the problem, stating, “I have long been concerned about PFAS and the efforts to help states and communities dealing with legacy contamination in their backyards. This is just a start of the work we will do on PFAS to ensure Americans have the cleanest air, land, and water.”

The EPA’s plan includes developing new water pollution regulations for PFAS manufacturers and metal finishers, as these chemicals are used in the electroplating process. The agency also plans to designate an internal leader for PFAS initiatives, focusing on data collection for detection and destruction methods.

Last year, the Biden administration finalized the first legally enforceable federal limits on PFAS in drinking water, a culmination of years of research and advocacy. However, industry groups have challenged these standards, claiming the EPA overstepped its authority. Similar legal challenges have been filed against the hazardous waste designation for PFAS under the Superfund law.

The EPA’s recent announcement remained silent on these lawsuits. When questioned, an EPA spokesperson stated that the agency is “in the process of reviewing the PFAS drinking water rule, and the issues presented in the litigation…and developing its position on how to proceed.” The EPA faces crucial deadlines in May to decide whether to defend the drinking water and hazardous waste rules.

The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the EPA’s new plan translates into tangible action or remains simply a collection of words, leaving the threat of “forever chemicals” lingering.