Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $18,914,000 from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address emerging contaminants, like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Rhode Island. This investment, which is allocated to states and territories, will be made available to communities as grants through EPA's Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program and will promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies.
"Too many American communities, especially those that are small, rural, or underserved, are suffering from exposure to PFAS and other harmful contaminants in their drinking water," said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. "Thanks to President Biden's leadership, we are investing in America and providing billions of dollars to strengthen our nation's water infrastructure while safeguarding people's health and boosting local economies. These grants build on EPA's PFAS Strategic Roadmap and will help protect our smallest and most vulnerable communities from these persistent and dangerous chemicals."
"Today's grant announcement is one significant step in EPA's comprehensive PFAS Roadmap to support our state partners as we aggressively tackle PFAS in drinking water, protect public health, and provide critical information quickly and transparently," said EPA New England Regional Administrator and Co-Chair of EPA's Council on PFAS David W. Cash. "This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will target resources to small or disadvantaged communities most in need of assistance and will speed up our important work reducing PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water, especially in communities that are challenged by lack of capacity and funding."
"We've got to get toxic chemicals out of our water and we must ensure people are well-informed about the safety of what comes out of their tap. I'm pleased this money is beginning to flow to Rhode Island, which has already taken steps to tighten rules on PFAS in drinking water. These federal funds will help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities throughout the state and nationwide defend against toxic chemicals in their drinking water supplies," said U.S. Senator Jack Reed. "And I urge the EPA and Biden Administration to move forward with a real sense of urgency to announce federal standards limiting PFAS in drinking water nationwide so states aren't left with a patchwork of uncertainty."
"Every Rhode Island home should have safe, clean water from the tap. We've delivered this funding to protect public health and help communities eliminate dangerous forever chemicals from drinking water," said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. "Whether it's lead pipes or chemical pollutants, this is another example of Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law working for Rhode Islanders."
"Rhode Islanders depend on – and deserve – a clean, safe water supply," said U.S. Representative David Cicilline. "These steps from the Biden-Harris Administration are key to delivering on this public health imperative. We made sure to include dedicated funding to address PFAS in the landmark infrastructure law, and I will continue to work with the Administration and my colleagues in state and local government to keep our communities healthy."
"All Rhode Island families deserve access to clean drinking water," said U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner. "Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Rhode Island will get millions of dollars in federal investment to eliminate dangerous contaminants in drinking water that put children and families' health at risk."
"All Rhode Islanders deserve access to drinking water that is healthy and safe," said Interim Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health Utpala Bandy, MD, MPH. "A collaborative approach in which the Federal government, the State, and local water systems are all engaged is key to addressing emerging contaminants like PFAS wherever they are present in Rhode Island. We thank the EPA for their partnership, and look forward to working with communities to help them take advantage of this important opportunity."
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $5 billion over five years to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS contamination reduce PFAS in drinking water. EPA announced the funds for Rhode Island as part of an allotment of $2 billion to states and territories that can be used to prioritize infrastructure and source water treatment for pollutants, like PFAS and other emerging contaminants, and to conduct water quality testing.
EPA is also releasing the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Implementation document. The implementation document provides states and communities with the information necessary to use this funding to address local water quality and public health challenges. These grants will enable communities to improve local water infrastructure and reduce emerging contaminants in drinking water by implementing solutions such as installing necessary treatment solutions.
Today's actions represent a significant milestone within the Biden-Harris Administration's commitments to combat PFAS pollution and safeguard drinking water, and specifically EPA's October 2021 PFAS Strategic Roadmap. Under the Roadmap, EPA is working across the agency to protect the public from the health impacts of PFAS. EPA has taken a number of actions to deliver progress on PFAS including:
- Proposing to designate two PFAS as CERCLA hazardous substances. If finalized, this will be a critical step toward increasing transparency around releases of PFAS and holding polluters accountable for cleaning up their contamination.
- Releasing drinking water health advisories. Acting in accordance with EPA's mission to protect public health and keep communities and public health authorities informed when new science becomes available, the Agency issued drinking water health advisories for four PFAS.
- Laying the foundation to enhance data on PFAS. This included an order under EPA's National PFAS Testing Strategy requiring companies to conduct PFAS testing, and nationwide sampling through the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for 29 PFAS in public drinking water systems.
- Expanding the scientific understanding of PFAS. The Agency issued more than 30 scientific publications by EPA researchers and released EPA's PFAS Thermal Treatment Database.
- Translating the latest science into EPA's cross-agency PFAS efforts. This included updating EPA's contaminated site cleanup tables, developing new PFAS methods and conducting toxicity assessments, and issuing draft national recommended water quality criteria to protect aquatic life.
- Continuing engagement with the public. EPA's PFAS work was informed by public webinars, stakeholder meetings, Congressional testimony, and engagement with EPA's federal advisory committees.
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