Boyle, Meehan Statement on Revised EPA Guidelines on PFOA/PFOS Water Contamination

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Brendan Boyle (PA-13) and Patrick Meehan (PA-07) today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency released revised drinking water health advisories on the health risks of Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). The EPA announced today that it was lowering the acceptable standard to a combined .07 parts per billion for the two compounds.

The compounds have been discovered in public and private water wells surrounding former military installations in Montgomery and Bucks Counties. The previous limits, set in 2009, were 0.4 ppb for PFOA and 0.2 ppb for PFOS.

“This is a step in the right direction,” said Congressmen Meehan and Boyle. “These lower levels take into account the most recent data to more accurately reflect the health risks associated with PFOA and PFOS in our drinking water. Residents with drinking water levels above this new standard deserve the same rights and protections as those whose water levels were above the old standard. We’re going keep fighting for these communities and conduct tough oversight to make sure that’s the case.”

Meehan and Boyle have been seeking answers from the EPA and the Navy on behalf of residents of the Willow Grove and Warminster communities.