Tomorrow at 10:00 am at the Riverfront Community Center, the EPA Region 7 office is hosting a press conference in Leavenworth, Kansas where they will announce their PFAS national action plan.
Communities around the United States are facing grave threats to their drinking water and health due to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). This class of man-made chemicals is pervasive and toxic; they can’t be broken down in an environment. In total more than 16 million Americans have documented PFAS contamination in their drinking water, but many more systems haven’t been tested. Even low levels of PFAS exposure increase people's risk of cancer, thyroid problems, and kidney damage. Exposure during pregnancy and childhood can permanently impair children's health and development.
EPA’s seventh region includes Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. There are PFAS contamination sites in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri. Additional testing is urgently needed near airports, fire training facilities and other industries that discharge PFAS.
In advance of the press conference, individuals released the following statements:
"National action on this water contamination crisis is needed now. The PFAS problem is harming military families and people all over country -- this is a nationwide emergency. EPA has dragged its feet in ending PFAS pollution and in cleaning up polluted communities, putting our families at risk. They must present a meaningful action plan that incorporates the input of harmed communities and makes national and state action the most urgent priority," said Elaine Giessel, Sierra Club, Kansas Chapter.
“While PFAS are currently exempted from most environmental statutes, EPA has the power to mandate water testing, stop on-going pollution, and clean up contaminated places. Wheeler has ignored the problem and is failing to protect the health and safety American families,” said Sonya Lunder, Senior Toxics Policy Advisor, Sierra Club.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.