Provisions within the Home and Senate annual Protection authorization payments cut back restrictions on the Pentagon’s use of “forever chemicals.”
Within the Home, one such provision is producing pushback even from Republicans.
“Forever chemicals” are the nickname for a household of human-made chemical compounds often known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemical compounds, which have been linked to well being points, together with most cancers, have been utilized by the navy for years in firefighting foam.
They’ve additionally been utilized in firefighter gear utilized by the navy and civilians, in addition to in widespread merchandise together with nonstick pans, quick meals packaging, clothes, furnishings, cosmetics and extra.
As the general public and policymakers grew to become extra conscious of the hazards posed by these substances, previous iterations of the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act (NDAA) have restricted the navy’s use of them and sought to require it to wash them up.
This 12 months, nonetheless, the laws appears to be rolling again a few of these restrictions.
The Home model of the invoice, which handed the decrease chamber Wednesday night, incorporates a provision that delays the phaseout of the usage of ceaselessly chemical compounds in navy firefighting foam.
Earlier payments required the navy to cease utilizing PFAS-laced firefighting foam by October 2024, with some potentialities for extension, however, if the measure passes, the navy will have the ability to buy new foam with these chemical compounds by means of 2026, with advocates fearing this can lengthen its use.
“The language would extend their ability to purchase and use” PFAS-containing foam until October 2026, said Jared Hayes, a senior policy analyst at the Environmental Working Group, adding that it also allows the military “to file new one-year waivers, so we’re one other three years of them with the ability to buy and use PFAS firefighting foam.”
He mentioned that extension waivers could be anticipated to restart the navy’s capacity to make use of two one-year waivers, which means the usage of this foam could be anticipated to be allowed till 2028.
“This actually exacerbates the contamination drawback. … We’ll see extra contamination, driving up cleanup prices and basically condemning extra protection communities and one other technology of service members,” Hayes added.
The Senate invoice, in the meantime rescinds prohibitions on the navy’s capacity to buy cookware, carpets and rugs that comprise two of probably the most poisonous sorts of ceaselessly chemical compounds.
It additionally lifts a restriction on the navy’s capacity to incinerate PFAS, a controversial and debated technique of disposing of those substances.
If each payments cross as-is, it’s not clear which of those provisions, if any, will make it into the ultimate model, as lawmakers should confer to handle variations earlier than sending it to the president’s desk.
On the Home aspect, the delay provision was met with pushback, together with from some reasonable Republicans.
GOP Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Jen Kiggans (Va.), Mike Lawler (N.Y.) and Nick LaLota (N.Y.) launched an modification to repeal the contentious Home provision, however the modification in the end didn’t make it into the invoice.
“Delaying the phaseout would only extend that harm and put our servicemembers, firefighters, and their families at greater risk,” Fitzpatrick spokesperson Casey-Lee Waldron informed The Hill in a press release whereas the modification was nonetheless into account.
She added that the congressman and his colleagues “are determined to keep the phaseout on track and prepared to fight for this critical public health priority on the Floor.”
A spokesperson for Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) who leads the Home Armed Companies subcommittee that offers with environmental points, didn’t reply to The Hill’s requests for remark.
On the opposite aspect, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) launched amendments to axe the provisions associated to permitting incineration and the acquisition of cookware and comparable merchandise.
“PFAS exposure can have drastic consequences for long-term health — why wouldn’t we take every chance to protect service members and their families from these harmful chemicals?” Shaheen informed The Hill in a press release.
“That’s why I fought to enact a moratorium on incinerating PFAS until it can be fully destroyed without polluting our air. I’ll keep working to put a stop to Republican efforts to remove provisions in law that protect our service members and communities from unnecessary exposure to PFAS,” she mentioned.
The workplace of Senate readiness subcommittee Chair Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) pointed The Hill to a examine that discovered {that a} specific PFAS incineration facility was greater than 99.9 p.c efficient at destroying the compounds.
“The moratorium on incinerating PFAS chemicals was put in place to ensure the science supported it as a safe and effective disposal method. It has since been shown in a comprehensive 2022 study to be 99.9999% effective,” a spokesperson for Sullivan mentioned.
“Despite this, the Biden Administration slow-walked issuing the guidance necessary to lift the ban … leaving mounds of PFAS-laden soil in piles on our military bases. Senator Sullivan’s provision doesn’t mandate incineration, but it removes an unnecessary restriction and gives DOD back a safe and effective disposal option that doesn’t require shipping waste out of state,” they added.
Anti-PFAS activist Diane Cotter, who voted for President Trump, has mentioned she feels let down by the GOP on the “forever chemical” challenge.
“I am so sick of seeing congressionals stand for photograph ops with firefighters after which vote this laws down or chip away at it,” mentioned Cotter, whose husband Paul was a firefighter who had most cancers however is now cancer-free.
—Up to date at 6:04 p.m. EDT
