PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania is one small step closer to setting a safe standard for PFAS, the “forever chemicals” that have contaminated water supplies near military bases.
The state Environmental Quality Board overwhelmingly voted to move forward on setting a maximum contaminant level (MCL).
The vote comes after the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection completed a statewide PFAS sampling plan. It is looking at the data and toxicology information from Drexel University to establish a baseline to set an MCL for PFAS.
However, it could be another two years before Pennsylvania has a statewide standard.
Maya von Rossum, leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, said her group asked four years ago that the MCL be set between 1 and 6 parts per trillion. She said the DEP “slow-walked the process” at the time.
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“It’s based upon scientific research. It’s based upon experts that we have brought forth. It’s based upon expert analysis and reports in neighboring New Jersey and other states that have been much more progressive and proactive when it comes to protecting their communities and the drinking water supplies from PFAS,” she said.
“Where is DEP going to end up on the spectrum of protection?” she asked. “Are they truly going to be protecting the people of Pennsylvania? Are they going to fall in line with the federal government, [which] has done a pitiful job at putting in place needed protections for the people of the nation?”
Montgomery County had extensive PFAS contamination at its military bases. State Rep. Todd Stephens, who represents parts of Montco, said part of the problem is the bureaucratic red tape, which the DEP has to go through to set an MCL.
“I’m frustrated and disappointed in the bureaucratic red tape that seems to exist in order to try to get a drinking water standard in place that will protect people’s health, and it’s just really frustrating that bureaucracy can play so many roadblocks in front of good policy,” he said.
Stephens would like to see the DEP commit more resources to speed up the process. Local communities, meanwhile, are leading the way in setting their own safe water standards.
”Horsham, Warrington and Warminster are a non-detect,” he said. “Until someone can show me that any level of PFAS is healthy and safe for all people to consume, then I just assume we have no detectable levels of these chemicals in our drinking water.”
“It’s really important that the Pennsylvania DEP is finally on track to put in place drinking water standards and protections for the people of Pennsylvania when it comes to PFAS,” von Rossum added.
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