FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: ECOS Executive Director Ben Grumbles, (202) 266-4929 or bgrumbles@ecos.org or
Lia Parisien, (202) 266-4931 or lparisien@ecos.org
Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)
ECOS Conducts Assessment, Coordinates with State & Federal Partners on PFAS in Biosolids
Washington, DC – The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) is pleased to announce that it is conducting an assessment of state environmental agency efforts on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in biosolids. The survey delves into each state’s legislative and regulatory landscape, monitoring and treatment processes, testing and analysis protocols, and risk communication needs as they pertain to this challenging issue. ECOS will compile a report of its findings that will be made available later this fall.
Given that PFAS in biosolids is a top concern among many of its members, ECOS on October 21 convened a coordinating call with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The joint dialogue offered the opportunity for the agencies and state representatives to share some of the challenges they face. EPA emphasized the agency’s commitment to engaging with states on related actions moving forward, and state leaders representing ECOS and NASDA reinforced the need for effective risk communication and a dedicated biosolids plan to safeguard human health and the environment as well as farmers’ livelihood.
“Land application of biosolids holds both benefits and challenges for stakeholders, communities, and regulators,” said ECOS President Myra Reece, Director of Environmental Affairs with the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control. “We look forward to building upon the conversation of risk reduction and communication with NASDA, EPA, and USDA in the near term with tangible actions.”
PFAS in biosolids is a growing issue for state environmental agencies as evidence emerges of contamination of groundwater, surface water, and other media. Consumption of crops contaminated by the land application of PFAS-contaminated biosolids has been shown to cause adverse health effects in people and livestock.
Last week, the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council – a project of ECOS and its research affiliate, the Environmental Research Institute of the States – released a Biosolids and PFAS Fact Sheet summarizing emerging technical information about risk and management of biosolids affected by PFAS.
For more information, see ECOS’ PFAS webpage.
ECOS is the national nonprofit, nonpartisan association of state environmental agency leaders. For more information, visit www.ecos.org.
