Posted 4/9/2024, 9:52:00 PM
EPA Staff Blocked from Warning Senate About PFAS Reporting Loophole in 2020 Defense Bill
- EPA career staff tried to warn Senate committee about PFAS reporting loophole in 2020 defense bill, but were blocked by Trump political appointees
- Loophole allowed companies to avoid disclosing PFAS releases if chemicals were diluted below a certain threshold
- Emails show staffers alerted superiors about loophole in 2019, but messages apparently never reached Senate committee
- EPA staffers couldn't be "open/honest" with committee after rule finalized because they "never told" them about the loophole
- After Biden took office, EPA moved to close loophole by designating PFAS as "chemicals of special concern," requiring reporting