FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2025
CONTACT:
Aaron Bharucha, Public Relations Associate
(509) 429-1699 and epn-press@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org
The Environmental Protection Network Condemns Rollback of Key Protections Against PFAS
The Environmental Protection Network is expressing serious concern over EPA’s announcement on May 14, 2025 that it will rescind and reconsider limits on several toxic “forever chemicals” including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). During today’s United States Senate Committee on Appropriations hearing, Senator Merkley confronted Administrator Zeldin, saying, “I’m concerned… that this information… sounds like it’s at odds with your commitment to tackling PFAS.”
The Biden Administration had given drinking water systems five years to come into compliance with new PFAS standards, but EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s new announcement extends that deadline further until 2031. It will also rescind the standards for four PFAS chemicals.
“These four chemicals are the ones currently in use because industry developed them to replace PFOA and PFOS, so they are the chemicals most likely to increase contamination in the future,” said Dr. Betsy Southerland, the former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water. “It is incredibly inefficient to regulate them years after the treatment has been installed only for PFOA and PFOS.”
“Administrator Zeldin’s announcement on PFAS drinking water standards ensures that America’s children will be drinking PFAS for another decade while he slows drinking water and wastewater PFAS treatment for years,” said Southerland.
Dr. Betsy Southerland is the former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water (2012-2017) and is available to speak with the media about PFAS and the new EPA regulations related to forever chemicals.
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Founded in 2017, the Environmental Protection Network harnesses the expertise of more than 650 former EPA career staff and confirmation-level appointees from Democratic and Republican administrations to provide the unique perspective of former scientists and regulators with decades of historical and subject matter knowledge.