In a riveting address, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) enforcement chief sent shockwaves through the chemical industry, warning that the era of “forever chemicals” is coming to an end. The ominous thunderclap for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) manufacturers reverberated during Assistant Administrator David Uhlmann’s proclamation at the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources meeting in Washington, D.C. Here, under the scrutiny of legal eagles, he unveiled the tempest that’s brewing in the regulatory landscape.
EPA’s PFAS Manufacturers Warning :The Crosshairs of Accountability
Assistant Administrator Uhlmann delivered a powerful message: the hunt for accountability is on, and it’s the PFAS manufacturers who are firmly in the crosshairs. Although the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) currently lacks a formal regulatory framework for PFAS, Uhlmann’s cryptic announcement sent shockwaves through the gathering. He warned that once the storm clouds clear, chemical manufacturers will be OECA’s top priority.
