Wolf Administration Invites Public to Learn More About PFAS Contamination at November 30 Public Meeting

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Harrisburg, PA – To help residents learn more about perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and to receive input from representatives of government, industry and advocacy groups, the Wolf Administration will hold its first public meeting of the multi-agency PFAS Action Team Friday, November 30, 2018. The meeting will feature presentations from experts from state governments and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about PFAS contamination and how it is managed, including time for public comment. The meeting will be on Friday, November 30, 2018, beginning at 9:00 AM at the Rachel Carson State Office Building. The meeting will also be webcast.

“As we explore PFAS contamination, we have asked everyone to share their knowledge,” said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “We need to have as much information as we can on these chemicals and their potential impacts on health and the environment.”

PFAS substances were commonly used in applications that include surface coating of paper and cardboard packaging products, carpets, non-stick pans, and textiles, as well as firefighting foams. These substances have been detected in air, water, and soil in and around production manufacturing facilities, and airports and military bases that used firefighting foams.

“Governor Wolf called on the federal government to show leadership by establishing national safe drinking water standards for PFOS and PFOA, but in the absence of federal action, Pennsylvania will move forward aggressively to ensure Pennsylvania residents are protected,” McDonnell continued.

Presenters at the meeting will include representatives of the federal and state governments, as well as utilities, municipal governments, advocacy organizations, and others. Webcast information is available at www.dep.pa.gov/pfcs.

Companies began phasing out the production and use of several PFAS substances in the early 2000s, and two of the most well studied—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)—are no longer manufactured or imported into the United States. Despite the phase-out, contamination has been identified at 15 sites in Pennsylvania, each of which are being addressed by state and federal cleanup efforts.