Congressional Hearing on Perfluorinated Chemical (PFAS) Contamination
January 1, 2019
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The Frame
The hearing documents the federal and state government's approach to managing contamination in drinking water, which affects public health standards and funding for communities nationwide.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Residents in affected areas
These individuals are impacted by the presence of PFAS in their local drinking water supplies and the subsequent government remediation efforts.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The agency is responsible for setting drinking water standards and coordinating the federal response to chemical contamination.
U.S. Department of Defense
The department manages environmental cleanup and remediation activities on military installations where PFAS contamination has been identified.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on September 6, 2018, by the Subcommittee on Energy of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- The subject is the response to contamination from perfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) in the environment.
- Testimony was provided by representatives from the EPA, the Department of Defense, state environmental agencies from Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Michigan, and advocacy groups.
- The document includes written responses to follow-up questions submitted by committee members to the witnesses.
- The hearing record includes supplemental materials such as letters from members of Congress to the EPA and statements from the National Groundwater Association and Culligan International.
Why It Matters
The hearing documents the federal and state government's approach to managing contamination in drinking water, which affects public health standards and funding for communities nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are perfluorinated chemicals (PFAS)?
Who testified at this hearing?
News Coverage
Sponsors
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
State-Federal Coordination
The hearing highlights a trend where state agencies in Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania were taking proactive regulatory steps ahead of federal EPA action regarding PFAS.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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