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If the EPA won’t protect us and our communities

The long-awaited EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) PFAS (per- and polyflouroalkyl substances) Action Plan released on February 14th outlined steps the agency will take to address PFAS contamination and to protect public health. The plan:

· Provides both short-term solutions and long-term strategies to address PFAS contamination.

· Provides a multi-media, multi-program, national research, and risk communication plan to address this emerging environmental challenge.

· Responds to the public input the agency has received over the past year during the PFAS National Leadership Summit, multiple community engagements, and through the public docket.While the plan promises expanded research and tighter regulations for PFAS in the next few years, what the plan does not do is identify any concrete steps or protections that can be taken right now. The plan also doesn’t commit to setting a much needed lower MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) for PFAS chemicals.

This approach does not help the areas around New Hampshire that are contaminated by PFAS chemicals. In fact, what this plan does is leave us on our own in the short term to protect ourselves and our communities.

Pay attention to what is being done at the state level about PFAS contamination. If the EPA won’t protect us and our communities, perhaps we can all join forces and get the State of New Hampshire to do it.