Environmentalists concerned over forever chemical regulations after U.S. Supreme Court ruling

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – A U.S. Supreme Court ruling to overturn a 40-year-old precedent is raising concerns over the future of environmental regulations like the first-ever national drinking regulation.

That rule would protect hundreds of millions of people from harmful chemical compounds called PFAs otherwise known as “forever chemicals.”

“We know that they cause cancer. We know that they cause birth defects. They can have complications in women that are pregnant, kidney disease, and they are really toxic at low levels,” said Autumn Crowe, interim executive director of West Virginia Rivers Coalition. “There’s a whole host of really useful products that they’re used in, but the problem is that they are so resistant to breaking down in the environment so they’re termed forever chemicals.”

According to Crowe, PFAs have been found in 130 raw water supply systems throughout West Virginia. The worst contamination areas: the Eastern Panhandle and along the Ohio River Valley.

Last year, the state passed a PFAs Protection Act which requires the state to do more testing and to establish a plan to lower the levels in our water. As part of those efforts, treated water was tested at 37 water systems across the state, Crowe said 19 were over the new EPA standards.

In April, the federal government passed its own rules that apply to all states. Under the federal plan water systems will have until 2029 to comply with tighter rules.

Months later, the federal rules may be in jeopardy due to a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, limiting the power of federal agencies like the EPA.

“It’s like the science has had to catch up, and I just think where that is happening is at the agencies,” said Honey May, representative of Sierra Club WV Chapter. “I have real concerns about what this does for West Virginia in terms of what it means for clean air, clean water, what it means for our power bills. Huge questions.”

As for Crowe, she concedes that the effort to reduce PFAs is going to be expensive.

“I would encourage folks if they’re concerned about this issue to get involved locally,” she said. “There’s a lot that people can do just to advocate for stronger regulations, the next steps for addressing the PFAS contamination issue.”

Crowe said West Virginia Rivers Coalition and DEP received a $1 million grant from EPA to develop action plans. The areas with the worst contamination like the Eastern Panhandle and the Ohio River Valley will be the first to be addressed. As for additional funding, she said those accountable for the PFAs pollution should help pay to get water systems back on track.

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