Remarks for the PFAS Final Rule Announcement, As Prepared for Delivery
Michael Regan, EPA Administrator
Fayetteville, NC
Thank you, Emily for that introduction...and more importantly, for speaking up and fighting boldly on behalf of your community and communities all across the country whose lives have been turned upside down because of PFAS contamination.
To my good friend Governor Cooper, as always, it’s great to see you! I want to thank you for your national leadership on this very important issue...and for serving as a strong example of how states have led the way on their own for far too long...especially during the previous federal administration.
Attorney General Stein, thank you for joining today. It’s because of your bold leadership and the tireless legal work of your NC Department of Justice … and Attorney’s General all across the country, that we have been able to address emerging contaminants, like PFAS, in North Carolina’s drinking water.
To White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair, Brenda Mallory, thank you for joining us today and for your partnership in the White House … especially on some of the most challenging water quality issues facing our country.
Mayor Colvin, thank you for being here and welcoming us to your city … we’ve been at this for a while, and you’ve never wavered. The people of Fayetteville are lucky to have you.
I’d also like to thank Ken Cook from the Environmental Working Group for joining today’s program.
Ken and EWG have been an important partner for EPA and this administration as we continue to address the issue of forever chemicals in our drinking water.
And folks, I’m proud to work for a president who not only understands the threat that emerging contaminants pose to people’s health but who, upon taking office, launched a whole-of-government approach to address that threat.
We could not be here today without President Biden’s leadership.
In North Carolina, we’ve proven time and time again that the best way to create strong, durable policy is to bring all stakeholders to the table, regardless of political party or background … examine the issues from all sides … and forge common solutions.
This has been my perspective as administrator of the United States EPA, and it was my perspective when Governor Cooper appointed me Secretary of NC DEQ back in 2017...
As Secretary of DEQ we faced many obstacles —challenges like the impacts of floods and hurricanes resulting from a changing climate, tackling environmental injustices, and cleaning up coal ash just to name a few.
But by far, one of the most difficult challenges was discovering the presence of forever chemicals in our soil, air, and water.
For me personally, this is a battle that started right here, in Fayetteville, NC.
We learned that for decades, Chemours had been dumping forever chemicals into our precious Cape Fear River, saturating our soils and spewing emissions into the air for miles and miles.
There’s no doubt that these chemicals have been important for certain industries and consumer uses...
But there is ALSO no doubt that these chemicals entering our environment in an uncontrolled manner are harmful to our families, our communities, and our economy.
I’ve heard from parents like Emily Donovan, who had no idea the water she was giving her children since birth was contaminated with PFAS.
I’ve also heard from parents like Andrea Amico, whose family moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 2007.
Like any parent would, she enrolled her small kids into daycare after the move, and seven years later she would find out her children were drinking contaminated water.
Folks, let me be clear...as a parent and as EPA administrator, there is no greater priority for me, than protecting our children.
That’s why, as soon as I stepped into this role, I tasked a group of senior EPA career officials from across multiple offices to develop a multi-year PFAS strategy to begin tackling this persistent threat to the American public.
In October 2021, EPA announced our PFAS Strategic Roadmap, guided by President Biden’s “whole-of-government” call to tackle PFAS pollution and deliver clean water for all.
And in the years since, EPA has accelerated our progress to protect communities from forever chemicals … we are holding polluters accountable...we are advancing the science around PFAS...and we are listening to and learning from the very communities that have had to face the fears of contamination.
Just over a year ago, I stood in Wilmington, North Carolina, just downstream of the community we’re in today, to announce EPA’s proposed national drinking water for PFAS...and today I am back to finish the assignment.
Today, I am proud to return to North Carolina to announce the first-ever, nationwide, legally enforceable drinking water standard for PFAS … the most significant action EPA has ever taken on PFAS.
This new standard will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people...Let me say that again—100 MILLION PEOPLE...it will prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses across the country.
And folks, let me be clear. PFAS doesn’t care what your politics are, or where you live or how much money you have in your pocket.
When it comes to basic needs like clean drinking water—no matter what your political party, or whether you live in the south, east coast, or midwest—everyone should be able to turn on their tap, and trust that the water they drink is safe.
I’m proud that this rule is the result of a collective, bipartisan effort—with all sides united in finding a solution to the threat of PFAS contamination.
It’s the result of governors across the country like Roy Cooper, Phil Scott, Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Gretchen Whitmer.
Attorneys General like Josh Stein, Michelle Henry of Pennsylvania, Tim Griffin of Arkansas, and Kris Mayes of Arizona.
It’s the result of our partners in Congress, like Senator Tillis, Congressman Hudson, and Senator Carper, who came together to protect the health of their communities.
And it’s the result of community advocates like Emily Donovan, Hope Grosse of Pennsylvania, and Sandy Wynn-Stelt of Michigan—who’ve pushed for stricter PFAS standards in drinking water for years, while facing difficult health challenges from their own PFAS exposures or caring for their loved ones.
Today’s rule sets forth clear timeframes for implementation, and we know it can be achieved using a range of available technologies and approaches that many water systems are using today.
PWC’s Hoffer Water Treatment Facility has been on the frontlines of finding ways to reduce PFAS exposure and cities like Fayetteville are showing that together we can get the job done.
At the same time, we know that some water systems need help. That’s why, alongside today’s announcement of the rule, EPA is also announcing nearly $1 billion dollars in funding for states and territories to conduct initial testing and treatment at public water systems, and at homes served by privately owned wells.
With today’s actions, we are one huge step closer to finally shutting off the tap on forever chemicals once and for all.
I promise that everything our agency does to implement this standard will be about putting people first—you will never have to wonder who EPA is working for.
We are working for you...
We are working for your children...
We are working for your neighbors and your community...
And President Biden, Vice President Harris, and this EPA will continue fighting until all people—regardless of the color of their skin, the community they live in, or the money in their pocket—have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and the opportunity to live a healthy life.
Thank you!