State Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford), who is Senate Chair of the legislature’s Environment Committee, issued the following statement today regarding today’s announcement by the Biden Administration and the federal Environmental Protection Agency about their plan to combat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through increased investments in research, restricting PFAS chemicals from being released into the environment, and accelerating the cleanup of PFAS contamination:
“This year, I was proud to lead the passage of Public Act 21-921, which bans the use of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and prohibits the manufacture and distribution of food packaging containing these ‘forever chemicals’ beginning in 2024.
“Together with the Environment Committee members and my colleagues on the Public Health Committee, we worked hard to ensure that the largest source of water and soil PFAS contamination was addressed by establishing a take-back program for the firefighting foam, ensuring a suitable alternative was established, and preventing any future purchase and use.
“Not only does this protect those who protect us each day, the firefighters, but it eliminates the possibility of spills and therefore helps to keep our water free from these carcinogenic substances. Connecticut has really taken the lead on this in both the legislature and through our toxics division of the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.
“We have a long way to go, and we are unfortunately discovering well contamination in many places, including right in my senate district. However, the steps outlined by President Biden, as well as those by Connecticut’s legislature, will help raise awareness and hopefully prevent the future manufacture of products containing harmful chemicals.”
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