Biden-Harris Administration Announces over $37 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Address Emerging Contaminants like PFAS in Drinking Water in Michigan

February 13, 2023

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $37,348,000 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address emerging contaminants, like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Michigan drinking water. This investment, which is allocated to states and territories, will be made available to communities as grants through EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program and will promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies. 

“Too many American communities, especially those that are small, rural, or underserved, are suffering from exposure to PFAS and other harmful contaminants in their drinking water,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we are investing in America and providing billions of dollars to strengthen our nation’s water infrastructure while safeguarding people’s health and boosting local economies. These grants build on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and will help protect our smallest and most vulnerable communities from these persistent and dangerous chemicals.” 

“Emerging contaminants like PFAS are some of the greatest environmental challenges we are facing,” said Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the funds being announced today, EPA is helping states and communities prepare for these threats and better protect the drinking water we all depend on.” 

“People in communities across Michigan have experienced the fear and frustration of finding out that contaminants like PFAS now threaten their home, community and health of their families. This funding is critical for the cleanup of these contaminants. It will help communities who don’t have the resources to address the problem on their own, clean up the contaminants so that residents have safe drinking water that we all take for granted.” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow.  

“PFAS contamination and exposure has harmed communities across Michigan, and is not only an environmental threat but a danger to public health and local economies – which is why addressing these toxic chemicals has been one of my top priorities in the Senate,” said Sen. Gary Peters. “I’m proud to have helped pass the infrastructure law that made this federal funding available to mitigate PFAS and expand access to clean drinking water, including for rural and underserved communities in our state. I’ll work closely with state and local leaders to make sure this funding is implemented effectively.”  

“Every American should have access to clean, safe drinking water, including drinking water that is free from harmful PFAS contamination,” said Rep. Dan Kildee. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, communities will have new investments to address PFAS contamination in their drinking water. As co-chair of the Congressional PFAS Task Force, I will continue working with Republicans and Democrats to protect Michigan families from dangerous forever chemicals.”  

“PFAS is and long has been an urgent public health and environmental threat, and too many communities across this country and in Michigan have been living with the dangerous consequences of PFAS contamination,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell. “It is known as a forever chemical because it does not degrade in the environment, and repeated exposure means increased risk for adverse health effects ranging from weakened immune system to cancer. I am proud to have helped secure these funds in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address PFAS in our drinking water in Michigan and across the country and will continue to work to prevent these forever chemicals from being used in our products, making their way into our water, and accumulating in the environment.” 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $5 billion over five years to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS contamination reduce PFAS in drinking water. EPA announced the funds for Michigan as part of an allotment of $2 billion to states and territories that can be used to prioritize infrastructure and source water treatment for pollutants, like PFAS and other emerging contaminants, and to conduct water quality testing.  

EPA is also releasing the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Implementation document. The implementation document provides states and communities with the information necessary to use this funding to address local water quality and public health challenges. These grants will enable communities to improve local water infrastructure and reduce emerging contaminants in drinking water by implementing solutions such as installing treatment systems. 

Today’s actions represent a significant milestone within the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitments to combat PFAS pollution and safeguard drinking water, and specifically EPA’s October 2021 PFAS Strategic Roadmap. Under the Roadmap, EPA is working across the agency to protect the public from the health impacts of PFAS. EPA has taken a number of actions to deliver progress on PFAS including:   

• Proposing to designate two PFAS as CERCLA hazardous substances. If finalized, this will be a critical step toward increasing transparency around releases of PFAS and holding polluters accountable for cleaning up their contamination. 

• Releasing drinking water health advisories. Acting in accordance with EPA’s mission to protect public health and keep communities and public health authorities informed when new science becomes available, the Agency issued drinking water health advisories for four PFAS. 

• Laying the foundation to enhance data on PFAS. This included an order under EPA’s National PFAS Testing Strategy requiring companies to conduct PFAS testing, and nationwide sampling through the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for 29 PFAS in public drinking water systems . 

• Expanding the scientific understanding of PFAS. The Agency issued more than 30 scientific publications by EPA researchers and released EPA’s PFAS Thermal Treatment Database. 

• Translating the latest science into EPA’s cross-agency PFAS efforts. This included updating EPA’s contaminated site cleanup tables, developing new PFAS methods and conducting toxicity assessments, and issuing draft national recommended water quality criteria to protect aquatic life. 

• Continuing engagement with the public. EPA’s PFAS work was informed by public webinars, stakeholder meetings, Congressional testimony, and engagement with EPA’s federal advisory committees. 

In addition to this new grant, EPA is also working to propose PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulations in the coming weeks. The draft proposed rule is currently undergoing interagency review and EPA will issue the proposed rule for public comment when it clears the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The agency anticipates finalizing the rule by the end of 2023. Together, with today’s announcement, these actions highlight EPA’s commitments outlined in the PFAS Strategic Roadmap to protect public health and the environment from the impacts of PFAS.  They also illustrate the benefits of investing in water—protecting public health and the environment, addressing key challenges facing communities, and creating jobs.