Opinion: The effort to protect communities from PFAS must include a way forward for manufacturers as well

Under the Biden-Harris administration, our country has created over 15 million jobs. Thanks to landmark legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this includes countless new jobs in the United States domestic manufacturing sector. Good policy in Washington, D.C., is driving economic growth and enabling us to develop and produce innovative products and technologies right here in Pennsylvania.

While supporting manufacturing, the administration has also made it a priority to create a clean and safe environment. A vital aspect of this environmental effort has been to reduce public exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, compounds critical to our manufacturing industry, as much as practically possible.

The Environmental Protection Agency is now considering releasing new effluent limit guidelines for PFAS, which are also known as “forever chemicals” for how long they remain a danger to the environment and those inhabiting it. As it creates new rules, the agency must carefully weigh the significant economic impact of these substances, particularly in our domestic manufacturing sector. New PFAS regulations should safeguard communities while also guaranteeing that key industries have continued access to PFAS for critical uses.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have already taken rigorous measures to reduce PFAS exposure, like administering billions of dollars to safeguard communities from PFAS in drinking water systems and establishing the first national drinking water standard through the EPA. Such actions have significantly enhanced public health and safety.

As the EPA finalizes PFAS effluent limitation guidelines, officials must ensure these standards align with the Biden-Harris administration’s broader goals to bolster our domestic manufacturing industry.

The unique properties of PFAS make them essential for multiple branches of Pennsylvania’s economy. The substances are used in industries that support thousands of jobs and generate nearly $20 billion in GDP. This includes the booming manufacturing sector, which received substantial economic investments from the Biden-Harris administration and Congress.

Industries that rely on PFAS include the semiconductor industry, which generates $4.2 billion in economic output for our state and needs PFAS to enhance the durability and efficiency of microchips under extreme temperatures and conditions. PFAS are also critical to the assembly of clean energy technologies like solar panels, heat pumps, and wind turbines. Given that PFAS alternatives in these industries may take as many as 10 to 15 years to develop, overly restricting these compounds would pose significant challenges for our industries in advancing critical technologies.

The worst thing the EPA can do for Pennsylvania is enact rules that result in a de facto ban on the use of the compounds in manufacturing. EPA rules that restrict access to PFAS in critical industries would hinder the ability of Pennsylvania manufacturers to produce essential goods. It would also slow economic progress, particularly for industries manufacturing semiconductors and renewable energy technologies. This would undermine the billions of dollars in federal investments that are set to bring manufacturing jobs, facilities, and production to Pennsylvania.

As it looks to further regulate PFAS, the EPA should explore proposals that balance public health standards with advancing economic growth. Such measures could include expanding emission control standards or bolstering end-of-life management requirements. The agency should also promote the use of alternatives to PFAS when possible. We are already seeing this occur in various sectors such as cosmetic items, food packaging goods and more.

The Biden-Harris administration has set America on the path toward becoming a global leader in manufacturing. Instead of hindering these efforts with excessively stringent PFAS regulations, the EPA should support economic growth with balanced rules that ensure continued industry access to PFAS for essential applications.