United States
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EPA revises claim that PFOA and PFOS were phased out in the US
The Environmental Protection Agency has backed away from its claim that the United States phased out the chemicals PFOA and PFOS.
The Environmental Protection Agency has reversed its claim that the United States phased out the chemicals PFOA and PFOS.
The website change followed a complaint from Peer pointing out that the EPA was allowing PFOA production in the United States. The Information Quality Act requires information made public by federal agencies to be complete and accurate.
The phase-out involved an agreement the EPA reached with eight producers in 2015 to end production of PFOA and PFOS. It followed pressure for action after documents disclosed in litigation over DuPont's pollution in West Virginia exposed the chemicals' dangers.
That phase-out stopped short of a ban. Officials nevertheless repeatedly said the chemicals had been phased out, creating the impression that they were no longer produced or used in the United States.
The EPA's website now says quantities of PFOA may be produced, imported and used by companies.
The update also acknowledges that PFOS remains in production in the United States for some limited, ongoing uses.