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 Issues Statement on U.S. EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap
Washington, DC – U.S. EPA today issued its PFAS Strategic Roadmap, a comprehensive outline of
goals and a timeline for action on PFAS research, regulation, and remediation. The culmination of six
months of work by the agency’s Council on PFAS, this Roadmap marks an important step for the
agency and for states that have been seeking actionable deadlines.
States are encouraged by the planned efforts outlined in the document, including, but not limited to,
commitments to use federal statutes to advance testing and cleanup initiatives, establish a Maximum
Contaminant Level for PFOA and PFOS ahead of the statutory deadline, complete various important
research initiatives, and designate PFAS as hazardous under waste and air statutes by certain dates.
ECOS acknowledges that while some of the envisioned deadlines are ambitious, they are necessary.
It is vital that the EPA’s process is scientifically driven, that the proposals are ctionable, and
ultimately that this package protects the public from PFAS contamination.
ECOS Water Committee Chair Bruno Pigott, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management, says the Roadmap serves as a solid framework for progress in the
challenging PFAS arena. “States are already working hard and this Roadmap, combined with
collaboration between the federal government and the states, means we can move forward even
faster.”
ECOS President Ben Grumbles, Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment,
echoes these sentiments, noting that “states welcome the increased urgency and comprehensive
action from our federal colleagues.” He looks forward to “EPA’s issuance of science-based PFAS
standards and efforts to ensure federal agencies and facilities comply with state and federal
environmental laws.”
ECOS encourages EPA to use the Roadmap as a basis for increased state-federal coordination, as
well as for enhanced collaboration among federal agencies. The ECOS officers also emphasize the
importance of EPA working across the federal government to ensure cooperation in federal site
cleanups. ECOS stands ready to assist in facilitating efficient and effective completion of the efforts
outlined.
ECOS is the national nonprofit, nonpartisan association of state environmental agency leaders. For more information, visit www.ecos.org.
