Water wars wage on with the latest victory going to health and safety advocates. Yesterday, Senator Heather Gustafson (DFL-Vadnais Heights) stood alongside activists from Clean Water Action, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, to cheer the EPA's new drinking water standards targeting six types of PFAS, notorious substances linked to severe health risks like cancer and damage to reproductive and immune systems, according to the Senate DFL.
Spearheading local efforts to curtail the use of PFAS, Gustafson cited Minnesota's progress, including last year's enactment of Amara's Law. The law, a notable measure that got rid of PFAS in several consumer products also tacked PFAS in fire foam and pushed for transparency about products containing these chemicals. Reflecting on the progress made, Gustafson said, "Last year, Minnesota passed Amara’s Law, a pivotal piece of legislation that banned PFAS in 11 consumer items, addressed PFAS in fire foam, and mandated information disclosure for PFAS-containing products." She emphasized the law's influence across the country and the ongoing national push against PFAS pollution.
The fight against PFAS is ramped up with Congress forking out generous funds aimed at assisting water utilities in meeting the new PFAS drinking water standards. Gustafson highlighted the hefty chunk of money earmarked for clean water efforts, including an impressive $10 billion through the bipartisan infrastructure law – plus additional billions through revolving funds. She firmly acknowledged the long road ahead in her statement, "Our fight against PFAS is just beginning," as per the Minnesota Senate DFL.
PFAS, the so-called "forever" chemicals due to their endurance in the environment, are commonly used in industrial applications and consumer products to provide stain-resistance, water-repellency, and grease-proofing capabilities. With the new EPA standards in place, there will be enforceable limits for six studied PFAS in drinking water, aiming to mitigate the associated health harms, including cancer and immune system damage, faced by communities across the nation, particularly in Senate District 36, represented by Gustafson.
