Washington – A survey designed to identify which industries are discharging PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) into wastewater treatment plants has remained stuck in the White House Office of Management and Budget for nearly two years, according to two former agency officials who helped craft the study.
Background on the PFAS effort
The first‑of‑its‑kind questionnaire was submitted in October 2024, during the previous administration, and sought data from hundreds of plants across the United States. PFAS are man‑made chemicals linked by researchers to cancers, developmental effects in children, reduced vaccine efficacy and other health concerns. Because typical treatment facilities cannot easily remove these chemicals, they often re‑enter rivers, soils and even agricultural fields via biosolids.
Robert Wood, who directed the EPA’s Office of Water engineering and analysis division before retiring in 2024, explained that the survey would let regulators pinpoint the top industrial contributors and then craft targeted limits. “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.
Administration’s response
The Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to combating PFAS. It has retained the tough Biden‑era limits on two common PFAS compounds in drinking water and continues to support research into new removal technologies. Administration officials also note that they have kept strong standards while reviewing the need for additional data collection.
Critics, including environmental groups and the Robert F. Kennedy‑aligned “Make America Healthy Again” movement, argue that the delay signals an industry‑friendly approach. They point to the administration’s decision to pause a prior Biden‑era rule that would have reduced PFAS discharges from certain chemical manufacturers.
What the officials say
Stuart Shapiro, a former OMB staffer now dean at Rutgers University, called the two‑year wait “unusual” and suggested the OMB may simply be sitting on the request, noting that typical reviews take about 60 days.
State and local agencies have already taken action without the national survey. Michigan, for example, has imposed its own limits on PFAS discharges and reported measurable reductions in both water and biosolids. “The treatment plants told their industries, ‘Hey, you have to either stop discharging PFAS or reduce the amount of PFAS you are discharging to us,’” said Anne Tavalire, who works on PFAS reduction in Michigan.
Where the debate stands
While the survey remains unapproved, the Trump administration argues that existing data and state‑level actions provide sufficient information to regulate the most egregious polluters. The administration’s position is that a costly, nationwide sampling effort may duplicate work already done by states and industry.
Environmental advocate Kelly Ryerson, known as “Glyphosate Girl,” contends that the data gap hampers efforts to protect public health, calling the delay “urgently needed” to curb toxic exposures.
Both sides agree that PFAS pose a serious risk, but they differ on the best path forward. The Trump administration continues to promote its existing PFAS limits and research initiatives while reviewing the need for a broader survey.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
