Hudson Presses EPA Expert to Communicate Risks of GenX

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), a leader on efforts to tackle GenX and address contamination in the Cape Fear River, questioned a top official for chemical safety and pollution prevention today about efforts to address GenX in North Carolina.

 

In a House Environment and Climate Change subcommittee hearing, Rep. Hudson questioned Dr. Michal Ilana Freedhoff, the EPA Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. During their exchange, Rep. Hudson applauded EPA Administrator Regan for releasing the agency's PFAS Action Plan last week.

 

"I have fought hard to address PFAS pollution in our community since the chemicals began impacting the Cape Fear River region," began Rep. Hudson. "[I was] encouraged by his comments regarding the ambitious goals set forth in the plan."

 

In her response, Dr. Freedhoff indicated the EPA, "will be issuing the first round of test orders by the end of this year," and "expects the data to be extrapolated to fill health info gaps associated with about 2,000 different PFAS."

 

Rep. Hudson also asked Dr. Freedhoff about the EPA’s final human health toxicity assessment for GenX chemicals, which are part of the per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) group.

 

"This assessment will help policy makers and local communities take action to address PFAS and protect public health," said Rep. Hudson. "However, I’m concerned about how this is going to be communicated to my constituents and the citizens living in the Cape Fear River region who are impacted by GenX pollution. Can you tell how the EPA plans to communicate this risk to North Carolina citizens?”

 

"I agree completely with you," responded Dr. Freedhoff. "Communicating risk to people who have been affected by exposure to PFAS is extremely important and extremely challenging. I have personally met with a number of community organizations from North Carolina, more than once, and I hear the frustration and the anger and the fear every time I talked to them. It’s very important for me, I know for the administrator as well who comes from North Carolina, and everyone else in the agency, that we do a better job at talking to people and hearing what they have to say and explaining the risk they might have faced in the past."

 

More information on the PFAS Roadmap and Rep. Hudson’s efforts to address GenX and PFAS pollution can be found here.