Washington — Two former EPA officials who helped design a groundbreaking survey of wastewater treatment plants say the Trump administration has stalled the study that would pinpoint which industries are releasing harmful forever chemicals, known as PFAS, into waterways.
Survey stuck in federal review
The survey, the first of its kind, was submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in October 2024 for approval. Under typical procedures, OMB reviews such requests in about 60 days, but the document has remained unapproved for almost two years.
“This is sufficiently unusual and a very long period of time that it is worth asking the question: Is OMB just sitting on it?” said Stuart Shapiro, a former OMB staffer and dean at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
Why the data matters
Robert Wood, who directed the EPA’s Office of Water engineering and analysis division before retiring in 2024, explained that a nationwide questionnaire sent to hundreds of treatment plants would help regulators identify the top industrial sources of PFAS. “If we can determine the top one, the top two, the top three industries that dump PFAS, then we start work on the detailed studies and the regulation to get after nationwide limits on PFAS for the predominant industrial dischargers,” Wood said.
PFAS have been linked to increased cancer risk, developmental problems in children, reduced vaccine effectiveness, and other health issues. Because wastewater plants are not equipped to remove these chemicals, PFAS often return to rivers, soils, and even agricultural fields via biosolids used as fertilizer.
Administration’s mixed record
The Trump administration has publicly pledged to combat PFAS, retaining tough Biden‑era limits on two common PFAS compounds in drinking water and supporting research into new removal methods. However, critics note that the administration has delayed major drinking‑water limits and scrapped a prior effort to curb PFAS discharges from certain chemical manufacturers, restarting the rulemaking process under its own timeline.
Environmental groups, including the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, argue that the stalled survey creates a “logical paradox”—the administration criticizes a prior risk assessment for lacking a national occurrence study while that very study sits idle at OMB.
Industry and state perspectives
Cynthia Finley, director of regulatory affairs for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, questioned the need for a new, costly survey, noting that recent data already provide a wealth of information on PFAS discharges. “We would rather EPA look at what data is available already,” she said.
Michigan, which has collected its own PFAS data and imposed limits on discharges, reports that the approach has already reduced PFAS releases into rivers, lakes, and biosolids. Anne Tavalire, a state official working on PFAS reduction, said treatment plants have successfully pressured industries to cut or stop PFAS discharges.
Public health advocates call for action
Supporters of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement praised the administration’s earlier PFAS commitments but warned that without the survey, regulators cannot fully target polluters. Kelly Ryerson, known online as “Glyphosate Girl,” said the data are “urgently needed” to curb toxic exposures and address the chronic disease epidemic.
Both sides agree that timely, accurate data are essential for protecting communities from the lingering threat of PFAS in water and soil.
What comes next?
With the survey still awaiting OMB sign‑off, the Trump administration faces pressure from environmental advocates, industry groups, and state officials to move forward. If approved, the study could provide the evidence needed to craft targeted regulations that safeguard drinking water, agricultural lands, and public health.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
