Air Force PFAS Study Drives New Calls For EPA's CERCLA Designation

摘要

The Air Force's recent decision to steer funds for addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at a former Michigan base toward more study, rather than cleanup, is giving lawmakers further reason for pushing EPA to designate the chemicals as Superfund hazardous substances — as it could force polluter-driven cleanups including at military sites. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI), the co-chair of a bipartisan congressional taskforce on PFAS and whose district includes the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base, during an April 27 press conference call advocated for the Superfund designation, adding that Congress would take additional action "if necessary" to hold the Air Force accountable. "If it takes designating PFAS under [Superfund], which is what we need to do anyway," and then "unbelievably" having EPA force DOD to protect the public health, "we'll do what we have to," he said.