SPAN Statement on Proposed EPA PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

“The Sustainable PFAS Action Network, SPAN, was created by industry stakeholders to advocate for sustainable science-based and risk-based management of PFAS compounds. EPA’s effort to establish drinking water standards for PFOA, PFOS, and certain PFAA compounds, is a step in the right direction”, said SPAN Executive Director Kevin Fay, “and we appreciate the agency acknowledging the complex nature and differences among chemicals that are PFAS.” 

In the recent years, advocacy groups have encouraged a “class-based” approach to regulatory efforts that uses a broad definition of PFAS and would apply a one-size-fits-all approach. With this latest proposal, EPA has again confirmed the need for a risk-based approach, consistent with other efforts being pursued as part of EPA’s PFAS Roadmap. SPAN looks forward to reviewing in greater detail the terms and technical bases for the proposed drinking water contamination limits. SPAN will continue to work with fellow stakeholders and regulators at the state and federal level to advocate for the use of a risk-based approach in contrast to efforts that employ an overly broad definition of PFAS that ultimately could limit the availability of certain substances for which alternatives have not yet been developed and that address critical needs for components of essential products that are used every day.

In a recent study conducted for SPAN, INFORUM, a Washington-based economic consulting firm, found that six key industries rely on certain PFAS compounds to manufacture products, including the Aerospace, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Automotive, Battery, Medicine and Pharmaceutical, and Semiconductor industries. These industries support more than 6 million jobs in the United States, provide wages to their workers of more than $550 billion annually, and contribute more than $1 trillion to the national gross domestic product.

It is important that PFAS are managed sustainably, that unnecessary PFAS emissions and exposures are significantly reduced while the importance of select PFAS to the 21st century economy is recognized, and that feasible alternatives are identified where possible.