Thursday, February 16, 2023

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $18M in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Address Emerging Contaminants like PFAS in Drinking Water in Idaho

WASHINGTON (Feb. 16, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $18,014,000 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address emerging contaminants, like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Idaho. This investment, which is allocated to states and territories, will be made available to communities as grants through EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program and will promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies. 

Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the availability of $2 billion Monday. 

"Idahoans deserve clean, safe drinking water," said EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller. "Thanks to this historic investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is delivering on its commitment to address PFAS and emerging contaminants by providing more than $18 million to safeguard Idaho’s drinking water and protect communities from these dangerous chemicals.” 

"We are grateful to the EPA for helping us protect public health and the quality of Idaho’s air, land, and water. This funding will help us better understand the extent of PFAS contamination in our state and will provide us with the resources necessary to take meaningful action to address this important issue,” said Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Director Jess Byrne.  

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $5 billion over five years to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS contamination reduce PFAS in drinking water. EPA announced the funds for Idaho as part of an allotment of $2 billion to states and territories that can be used to prioritize infrastructure and source water treatment for pollutants, like PFAS and other emerging contaminants, and to conduct water quality testing. 

EPA is also releasing the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Implementation document. The implementation document provides states and communities with the information necessary to use this funding to address local water quality and public health challenges. These grants will enable communities to improve local water infrastructure and reduce emerging contaminants in drinking water by implementing solutions such as installing necessary treatment solutions. 

Today’s actions represent a significant milestone within the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitments to combat PFAS pollution and safeguard drinking water, and specifically EPA’s October 2021 PFAS Strategic Roadmap. Under the Roadmap, EPA is working across the agency to protect the public from the health impacts of PFAS. EPA has taken a number of actions to deliver progress on PFAS including:   

In addition to this new grant, EPA is also working to propose a PFAS NPDWR in the coming weeks. The draft proposed rule is currently undergoing interagency review and EPA will issue the proposed rule for public comment when it clears the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The agency anticipates finalizing the rule by the end of 2023. Together, with today’s announcement, these actions highlight EPA’s commitments outlined in the PFAS Strategic Roadmap to protect public health and the environment from the impacts of PFAS.  They also illustrate the benefits of investing in water—protecting public health and the environment, addressing key challenges facing communities, and creating jobs.  



from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/ICLT5Ww