PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of widespread man-made chemicals that don’t break down in the environment or the human body and have been flagged as a major contaminant in sources of water across the country.
Keep up with PFAS-related developments in the Great Lakes area.
In this edition: New legislation in Indiana restricts but doesn’t ban PFAS-containing foam, over 600 military bases may contain PFAS, a New York landfill tested positive for PFAS, and Dane County and its water utility are under scrutiny for refusing to share their hazardous chemical records.
Click on the headline to read the full story:
Indiana
- Indiana adopts law restricting PFAS-containing foams – Chemical Watch
Unlike measures in several other states, the law does not prohibit or restrict the manufacture, sale or distribution of firefighting foams containing intentionally added PFAS, nor their use in emergency firefighting or fire prevention operations.
Michigan
- Several more steps before PFAS decision is final – Cadillac News
No PFAS chemicals were detected in the city of Cadillac, but the city is in the process of building two new well, which will be soon tested.
New York
Both environmentalists and residents near the landfill have called on it to be shut down.
Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Water Utility sued for withholding PFAS records – Wisconsin State Journal
An environmental advocacy group is suing Dane County and the Madison Water Utility over their refusal to release records relating to hazardous chemicals.
National
- S. Military Says More Facilities May Have ‘Forever Chemicals’ – Bloomberg Environment
A total of 651 military installations around the U.S. may be polluted with PFAS chemicals, increasing previous estimates by 250 additional facilities, according to a Defense Department report sent to Congress.
- $20 billion bill proposed to clean up PFAS water contamination nationally – New Hampshire Union Leader
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, has introduced legislation aimed at providing substantial federal funding for PFAS remediation in drinking and groundwater, including private wells.
- Honeywell, Chemours Among PFAS Makers on EPA Chemicals List – Bloomberg Environment
The list of about 630 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that Bloomberg Law obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency through a Freedom of Information Act request identifies chemicals that were made, imported, mixed, or repackaged in the U.S. between June 2006 and June 2016.
Catch up on other PFAS content from Great Lakes Now:
Featured Image: Fire Department sprays water on fire suppression foam in Hangar 706 while other firefighters watch, Photo by Greg L. Davis U.S. Air Force via dover.af.mi
