Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken a significant step in environmental regulation by co-leading a coalition of 17 states in filing an amicus brief. The brief was submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rule that establishes nationwide drinking water standards for certain toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals."

The EPA's rule is the first to set enforceable standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act for six PFAS chemicals: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, GenX, PFNA, and PFBS. This regulation requires public water systems across the United States to test and treat drinking water for these contaminants if necessary.

Attorney General Bonta emphasized the importance of this action stating, “Like many Americans across this country, we at the California Department of Justice have been greatly concerned about PFAS exposure.” He highlighted ongoing efforts to hold major manufacturers accountable and support federal regulations designed to protect public health from these persistent pollutants.

PFAS are found in numerous consumer products such as food packaging, cookware, clothing, carpets, shoes, fabrics, polishes, waxes, paints, cleaning products, and firefighting foams. Known for their stability in the environment and resistance to degradation, these chemicals can leach into groundwater and are linked to various health issues including cancers and developmental defects.

The amicus brief filed by Bonta and his colleagues argues that maintaining this rule would improve public health significantly. It defends the EPA’s decision to regulate both individual PFAS contaminants and their mixtures using a hazard index approach.

Bonta has shown a strong commitment to addressing PFAS contamination through previous legal actions against manufacturers like 3M and DuPont for alleged public deception regarding the harmfulness of these chemicals. His leadership extends beyond California as he collaborates with attorneys general from Connecticut, New Jersey, Arizona among others.

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