Trump administration proposes to allow some delays for 'forever chemical' regulations
Key takeaways
- Under current regulations, water systems are required to filter out at least some of these toxic substances by 2029.
- The administration is proposing to allow companies to apply for exemptions to push that deadline back to 2031, meaning some communities could end up drinking contaminated water for two extra years.
- The official declined to say whether most companies that apply for an extension would be likely to receive one.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
Under current regulations, water systems are required to filter out at least some of these toxic substances by 2029.
The administration is proposing to allow companies to apply for exemptions to push that deadline back to 2031, meaning some communities could end up drinking contaminated water for two extra years.
An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official told reporters Monday that extensions would be granted on a case-by-case basis and that even with an exemption, systems with high levels of contamination would need to take interim measures to reduce it. The official declined to say whether most companies that apply for an extension would be likely to receive one.