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Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft rules to set maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for six types of PFAS in drinking water. The rule would set an MCL of four parts per trillion (PPT) for both PFOA and PFOS and regulate four other PFAS including GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS as a mixture. These new standards take into account the dangerous health impacts from exposure to PFAS. Currently, the state of Maine has an interim MCL of 20 PPT for six types of PFAS. The new draft EPA standard is far more health protective, particularly for PFOA and PFOS, than Maine’s current standard. 

In response to the draft rule from the EPA, Sarah Woodbury, director of advocacy for Defend Our Health stated:

“We applaud the EPA for taking action to set strong standards for PFAS in drinking water to stem this direct threat to public health. We have seen the serious impacts of PFAS drinking water contamination here in Maine. It’s tragic that some Mainers were exposed for years to unsafe levels of these so-called ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water. If approved, the EPA’s new drinking water standards will protect the health of thousands of Mainers across the state.

Maine has been a leader on the issue of PFAS contamination and our current interim MCL’s are some of the lowest in the country. But the new EPA draft standards show that we need to do better. Maine does not have to wait for the EPA’s draft rule to be finalized, which will take months to implement. Maine should take action now to update our drinking water standards to protect the health of all Mainers.”