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As I See It

EPA finally takes much needed action on PFAS

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It shouldn’t have taken this long, but the day has finally come. The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new national  standards to keep our drinking water safe. This is a big step for public health and achieves a goal that previous administrations could not. If these rules are finalized, the U.S. will finally have enforceable drinking water levels. In Wisconsin, policymakers have deferred to the EPA when it comes to levels of PFAS chemicals in our drinking water. Now that the EPA has taken action, states can adopt those tougher standards. This is good news for people in French Island and many other Wisconsin communities. People there have been relying on bottled drinking water for the past two years because of the high levels of contaminants in their well water. This action does not do anything to clean up our water supply, but it does take some significant steps. It labels two PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances, meaning polluters can be held accountable. Public water systems will be required to start testing for the chemicals and requires public notification if levels exceed the new standards. Clean drinking water is a basic human right, and creating these new standards will help provide peace of mind when we turn on the tap.

Scott Robert Shaw serves as WIZM Program Director and News Director, and delivers the morning news on WKTY, Z-93 and 95.7 The Rock. Scott has been at Mid-West Family La Crosse since 1989, and authors Wisconsin's only daily radio editorial, "As I See It" heard on WIZM each weekday morning and afternoon.

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1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. nick

    March 15, 2023 at 3:09 pm

    I applaud the EPA for finally doing their job.
    It does not alter the fact that Wisconsin state government has done their job.
    There should have been action taken by the state to fix the problem; not only for French Island but for all affected communities.
    The inaction is amoral.

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