EPA's New Limits on PFAS in Drinking Water Could Be Upended by the Supreme Court

EPA's New Limits on PFAS , in Drinking Water Could Be , Upended by the Supreme Court.

'Newsweek' reports that the United States Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case against new water rules put in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

'Newsweek' reports that the United States Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case against new water rules put in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In April, new national limits were placed on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the nation's drinking water, otherwise known as PFAS.

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Also known as "forever chemicals," PFAS have been linked to a number of health concerns, including cancer.

According to the EPA, of the 66,000 public drinking water systems impacted by the new limits, an estimated 6% to 10% will need to make updates to meet the new standards.

According to San Francisco, the EPA's new "narrative" regulations fail to meet the Clean Water Act's requirement to lay out clear restrictions.

The lawsuit headed to the Supreme Court accuses the EPA of setting vague rules without quantifiable standards.

Rather than specify pollutant limits that tell the permitholder how much they need to control their discharges as required by the CWA, these prohibitions effectively tell permitholders nothing more than not to cause 'too much' pollution, Lawyers representing San Francisco, via 'Newsweek'.

These generic water quality terms expose San Francisco and numerous permitholders nationwide to enforcement actions while failing to tell them how much they need to limit or treat their discharges to comply with the Act, Lawyers representing San Francisco, via 'Newsweek'.

We simply want to know in advance what requirements apply to us, and we want the EPA to fulfil its duty under the Clean Water Act to determine those requirements.

, Lawyers representing San Francisco, via 'Newsweek'.

'Newsweek' points out that the Supreme Court has sided against the EPA in the past, most recently in 2022 when it ruled 6-3 against the Biden administration's climate agenda.

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'Newsweek' points out that the Supreme Court has sided against the EPA in the past, most recently in 2022 when it ruled 6-3 against the Biden administration's climate agenda.