Category: Resources

EPA, PFAS

CERCLA PFAS Enforcement Listening Sessions

John Lovie

Key takeaways:

EPA will focus enforcement efforts on federal facilities, including military bases, and manufacturers

EPA proposes exempting from CERCLA liability State, tribal, or municipal airports, and tribal or local fire departments, in exchange for full cooperation with investigations.

The first is good news for residents near Ault Field and OLF whose water has been contaminated by firefighting activities at these Navy facilities, and the second for others whose water may have been contaminated by non-military firefighting activities. Continue reading CERCLA PFAS Enforcement Listening Sessions

PFAS

About that Toilet Paper

John Lovie

A new study published this week was showed that toilet paper is a major contributor to PFAS in wastewater.

Rural Washington State relies heavily on septic systems for sewage treatment and on ground water wells for drinking water. In voluntary testing of public water systems in Washington State, PFAS compounds have been detected in about 10% of them. Could PFAS from our toilet paper be showing up in our drinking water? Continue reading About that Toilet Paper

DOH, EPA, PFAS

2023 EPA Proposal to Regulate PFAS in
Drinking Water

John Lovie

What did EPA announce?
On March 14, 2023, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule for
regulating six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Over the next year, the
proposed rule will undergo an extensive public review and comment process. The final regulation may
differ from the proposal.
EPA proposed maximum contamination levels (MCLs) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for perfluorooctane
sulfonate (PFOS) and four parts per trillion (ppt) perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Continue reading 2023 EPA Proposal to Regulate PFAS in
Drinking Water

PFAS, Seattle Times

Sea-Tac’s legacy of PFAS chemicals: ‘foam showers,’ sick firefighters and contaminated water

John Lovie

SEATAC — In the 1980s, rookie firefighters at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport endured a hazing ritual known as the “foam shower.”

Recruits stood some 150 feet down the tarmac with 5-gallon buckets and were told to catch firefighting foam shot out of a crash-response truck’s water cannon.

They would wear the usual helmet and heat-resistant gear, but still ended up drenched as the bubbly white liquid rained down on them. Continue reading Sea-Tac’s legacy of PFAS chemicals: ‘foam showers,’ sick firefighters and contaminated water

PFAS

‘I don’t want to live like this anymore’: East Selah families still fighting for access to clean water amid PFAS well contamination

John Lovie

EAST SELAH, Wash. — East Selah resident Brandi Hyatt has been unable to use the water in her home near the Yakima Training Center for a year due to high levels of a group of dangerous “forever chemicals” called PFAS, found in their wells.

Her family has been living off of bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth and washing hands and has been showering at the local YMCA, concerned about the toxic effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on human health.

“It’s stressful. It’s less than ideal,” Hyatt said. “I don’t want to live like this anymore.” Continue reading ‘I don’t want to live like this anymore’: East Selah families still fighting for access to clean water amid PFAS well contamination

PFAS

Local and state officials hear from Selah residents affected by drinking water contamination

John Lovie

Selah residents affected by the groundwater contamination near the Yakima Training Center spent Thursday night speaking with local and state health and environmental officials about their concerns over the U.S. Army’s handling of cleanup efforts. Continue reading Local and state officials hear from Selah residents affected by drinking water contamination

Ecology, PFAS

DRAFT Guidance for Investigating and
Remediating PFAS Contamination in
Washington State

John Lovie

You’re invited to review and comment on our draft cleanup guidance for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination and cleanup.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are collectively known as PFAS. This group comprises thousands of unique synthetic organic chemicals that are extremely stable and persistent. Continue reading DRAFT Guidance for Investigating and
Remediating PFAS Contamination in
Washington State