On November 3, 2021, the Department of Ecology (DoE) of the US state of Washington announced the publication of a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Chemical Action Plan (CAP). Developed with the state’s Department of Health, the plan focuses specifically on four areas: “(i) ensuring safe drinking water, (ii) managing environmental contamination, (iii) reducing PFAS in consumer products, and (iv) evaluating waste management.”
Several recommendations made in the CAP are already being enacted. For example, Washington state has been phasing out PFAS in food packaging as it identifies suitable replacements (FPF reported, also here). Other recommendations not yet underway include establishing a preference for PFAS-free products in all state government vendor contracts, to “consider PFAS as a class when the list of chemicals of high concern to children is [next] updated,” and to “develop a list of ways to reduce exposure that include low cost and subsidized approaches” with input from historically burdened communities.
DoE received more than 900 comments on the draft PFAS CAP published in October 2020 (FPF reported), which it divided into 299 issues to individually address. All the comments and DoE’s responses are included at the end of the plan.
Washington’s chemical action plans identify, characterize, and evaluate “uses and releases of a specific Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxin (PBT), a group of PBTs, or metals of concern, and recommends actions to protect human health or the environment.” After five years of working on the PFAS CAP, the DoE also recently announced the launch of the Phthalates Action Plan project.
Reference
Washington State Department of Ecology (November 2021). “Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Chemical Action Plan.” (pdf)
Read More
Washington State Department of Ecology (November 3, 2021). “Ecology announces action plan for addressing PFAS.”
Washington State Departments of Ecology (November 4, 2021). “Phthalates Action Plan.”
