Biden Administration to Restrict Cancer-Causing ‘Forever Chemicals’
“Forever chemicals” refer to a class of synthetic compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are widely used in a range of industrial and consumer products because of their resistance to heat, water, and oil. These chemicals have been found to persist in the environment and in human bodies for years, if not decades, and have been linked to a range of health problems.
On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it intends to implement the first-ever water standard require near-zero levels of six PFAS compounds in drinking water including, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX Chemicals), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). The EPA’s actions signal a greater recognition of the potential risks posed by PFAS and a commitment to protecting public health and the environment.
Capital Strategic Solutions has been on the frontlines providing support services to communities that have already been impacted by PFAS. In 2022, our team responded to thousands of hotline calls and hundreds of emails in multiple communities from concerned citizens looking for more information about the implications to their health and well-being. CSS will continue to be there for the many communities across the nation that will be impacted by this proposed regulation offering our services to assist them in their time of need.
Public drinking water suppliers have a monumental challenge ahead. Not only do they have to provide a short-term solution to provide their community members with safe drinking water, they also have the challenge of responding to a flood of inquiries – no pun intended, and have to come up with plan for a long-term solution all while emerging from a pandemic, where communities and consumers are both in delicate financial situations. They also have to address the risk intensification challenges, and build trust among community members by providing information in a transparent and timely manner.
Do you face challenges with staffing? A water quality hotline can be a critical part of any effective public education campaign. The CSS staff is here to help you develop and operate that hotline! Our team doesn’t just “take messages” – we have the experience needed to address and mitigate your water customers’ concerns. CSS has assisted the Town of Plainville, Department of Public Works perform outreach when the Plainville public water system faced many challenges in its efforts to produce and deliver clean, safe drinking water to the residents and commercial customers it serves.
“We have a small office staff in Plainville, so when the public drinking water supply exceeded the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protections maximum contamination level for PFAS, we were concerned about our staff becoming overwhelmed by the inquiries. Having CSS onboard has assisted us in responding effectively and efficiently to consumer inquiries about water quality and has increased the community’s trust in our team’s ability to protect public health and safety.”
CSS is currently working with the Town of Easton, Department of Public Works providing public outreach services regarding the quality of water in Easton and addressing community member’s concerns regarding the elevated levels of PFAS6 in their drinking supply.
“PFAS is an evolving issue. The new, more stringent PFAS limits are designed to ensure public water supplies are safe, and what is most important is that we make certain Easton’s water supply meets those targets. We have been working with Capital Strategic Solutions for a few years now to keep the public informed as we work to develop, design, and implement the most prudent solution for our community. Nichol and her team have been assisting our Water Division by responding to the concerns of our community, which has allowed us to focus on our next steps.”
CSS even offers public water suppliers a wide range of services to help manage and administer grant funds and projects including: assistance in applying for and managing project approval through ARPA, EPA and DEP, assistance with reimbursement requests and general administrative assistance for all aspects of the projects.
Assisting with Grant Funding Opportunities
- Research funding opportunities
- Verify eligibility requirements to ensure compliance and gather all applicable data, financial records, etc..
- Assemble grant application, develop a compelling grant narrative
- Submitting the proposal
- Grant award management, ensuring compliance with grant award instructions
- Collection of grant-related materials including receipts, reports, etc.
- Grant closeout process
- General administrative assistance
About Capital Strategic Solutions
The diversity of water distribution systems means there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach to PFAS. Similarly, the diversity of each community requires a unique approach to communications regarding sensitive water quality issues. Trust and transparency are just as critical as the quality of water and the consistency of their service to a public water supplier. CSS will collaborate with your team to develop a core of PFAS risk communication resources for your community. The material we create will help you easily collaborate and disseminate audience-appropriate information on chemicals of emerging concern. Our team has over a decade of experience implementing public outreach/education strategies for municipalities all across the Commonwealth.
We also offer a full variety of grant writing and technical assistance services customized to the needs of our clients. By crafting compelling applications and identifying ways to scale effective programs, CSS can help you obtain grant funding which will assist with infrastructure improvements. Successfully communicate with the public you serve! Contact us at info@capital-strategic-solutions.com or call 508-690-0046.