SPAN OP-ED: The Path Forward to Sustainably Manage PFAS

Responsible, effective PFAS management is possible through a federal risk-based approach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2024

Contact: media@span.org

WASHINGTON – Over the weekend, Kevin Fay, Executive Director of the Sustainable PFAS Action Network (SPAN), detailed the responsible path forward to manage per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Worcester Telegram. Fay’s op-ed addresses the urgent need for federal policymakers to shape a uniform approach that addresses growing concerns over the use of PFAS. 

Excerpts from "Striking the right balance on PFAS use":

“Momentum is building for sustainable policies that address concerns over the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, a diverse group of substances sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals.” This recent shift reflects a growing consensus that PFAS can be responsibly managed by risk without substantial economic and societal disruption to states like Massachusetts. Such an approach provides promise to policymakers across New England as they consider the most effective solutions to manage these often misunderstood substances.

PFAS are a broad category of versatile chemicals used in a variety of consumer and industrial products, including airplanes, MRI machines, life-saving medicines, personal electronic devices, and throughout the emerging clean energy sectors. While many PFAS possess risks, scientists agree that that not all PFAS are the same and some do not possess properties that could make them a hazard to human health or the environment. Our modern society is made possible by these innovative substances, which in many cases lack alternatives.

For these reasons, the federal government continues to expand its risk-based approach under the Environment Protection Agency’s Strategic PFAS Roadmap by focusing on the fewer than 1,000 commercially active compounds currently in use, while the Congress considers legislation to establish a much-needed uniform federal policy. In the meantime, states with recent experience trying to regulate PFAS are focusing on prioritizing substances that pose the greatest risk to public health and the environment, while identifying ways to effectively reduce harmful PFAS exposure without overwhelming the agencies tasked with executing policy.

It is a promising start, but there is still much work to do to achieve management policies that are environmentally effective and economically sensible.

To this end, federal leadership is necessary to develop science-driven policies that embrace the support of many in the business community to reduce risk posed by PFAS. This starts with identifying and remediating contaminated sites, properly identifying risk profiles of commercially active PFAS compounds, and encouraging innovation for alternatives to specific dangerous compounds. This will accelerate the reduction of harmful emissions and exposures while allowing continued appropriate use in important applications to our health, economy, and national security. Dedicating federal resources to this effort will also enable states like Massachusetts to more efficiently deploy limited resources to communities impacted by PFAS exposure.

… Collaboration among all stakeholders – including policymakers, industries, the scientific community, and environmental advocates – is the way forward towards a healthier and more sustainable future. Working together, we believe sensible approaches to PFAS management can be adopted that strike the right balance among environmental and health protection with economic and national security needs. ”

ABOUT SPAN:

Formed in 2021, SPAN supports science- and risk-based policy approaches that recognize the unique differences of these compounds. Recognizing the essential role of PFAS compounds in enabling economic prosperity, delivering lifesaving equipment and medicine, climate change mitigation, and national security, among many other important applications, SPAN is committed to their sustainable use and responsible management.

Find more information about SPAN and how America’s innovators and industries depend on the responsible management of PFAS compounds at www.span.org.