National PFAS Contamination Coalition Statement Re: Pruitt’s resignation 

In response to the news that Administrator Pruitt is resigning, The National PFAS Contamination Coalition issues the following statements:

“This coalition is here to send a message that no matter who’s in charge at EPA, the PFAS crisis impacting drinking water for millions of Americans should be a top priority,” said Shaina Kasper, Vermont and New Hampshire State Director at Community Action Works, the New England-wide public health and environmental non-profit.

“The Pruitt administration has shown time and time again that it will only take action on PFAS that the chemical industry has pre-approved. We anticipate that incoming administrator Andrew Wheeler will take the Environmental Protection Agency’s mission seriously. It remains to be seen if anyone under this president will fight for public health and the environment,” said Cathy Wusterbarth, a community leader of Need Our Water (NOW) in Oscoda Michigan.

“It is great news for Americans who care about ethics in government that Administrator Pruitt will finally be leaving office. But we need to stay vigilant. There is no reason to believe that his successor will be any less ambitious when it comes to dismantling the rules our children and our communities rely on to keep them safe from harmful pollution,” said Joanne Stanton of Bucks-Mont People for Clean Water in Warminster Pennsylvania.

“The National PFAS Contamination Coalition wants the next EPA administrator to continue on a strong path of action pertaining to the national PFAS crisis in our country. People who have been exposed and continue to be exposed to PFAS contamination will continue to expect the EPA to take a leadership role by holding polluters accountable and by prioritizing public health and the environment through a strong PFAS Management Plan. Impacted communities need much stronger regulations and a 1ppt drinking water standard for total PFAS,” said Andrea Amico a community leader of Testing for Pease in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a community group fighting PFAS drinking water contamination at the Pease Tradeport.

“It is critical that the EPA continue to host regional meetings in all impacted communities this summer to gather direct community input to help form the EPA’s PFAS Management Plan,” said Susan Gordon of the community group Fountain Valley Clean Water Coalition, of Colorado Springs, who is currently working with the regional EPA office to finalize the plan for their Regional EPA PFAS meeting August 7-8.