PFApocalypSe Now: The PFAS Firestorm and Implications for Florida

A company is being accused of copying a clothing design from another company. The lawyer for the first company is arguing that the design is unique and copyrighted, while the lawyer for the second company says it’s not that original. The case is in court now. PFAS are harmful chemicals found in many products we use every day, like food wrappers and firefighting foam. They don’t break down in the environment and can build up in our bodies. They can have serious health effects, like hormone problems and cancer. Two of the most well-known PFAS are PFOA and PFOS, which were found in drinking water. The EPA set a guideline for safe levels of PFAS in drinking water, but there’s still a lot of debate about how to test for and clean up these chemicals. PFAS chemicals are everywhere and might be harmful to human health, so the government is trying to regulate them. The U.S. House passed a law to label PFAS as hazardous, but the Senate didn’t. However, some new laws were passed in 2019 to monitor PFAS in drinking water and add them to the list of toxic chemicals. More laws are expected in the future to regulate PFAS. PFAS, a type of harmful chemical found in firefighting foam, is not currently regulated by the government. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a plan to address this issue, which includes setting limits for PFAS in water, cleaning up contaminated sites, and conducting more research. The FAA is also working to find alternative, environmentally friendly foam for firefighting. This issue is expected to be a focus for the EPA in 2020. The EPA is working on making rules for chemicals called PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. This is the first step in a long process. They will ask for public comments before making any decisions. The EPA is also looking into other similar chemicals and how they affect people and the environment. They want to make sure the water we drink is safe for everyone. Florida is taking action to limit PFAS in drinking water and other sources. The state is testing for PFAS in fire-training facilities and has set limits for PFAS in groundwater. They are also working on limits for soil and surface water. These limits are not officially enforceable yet, but they are being used to guide clean-up efforts. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection found chemicals called PFAS in groundwater and at dry cleaning sites. They will continue to check for these chemicals in other places like airports, seaports, and landfills. If PFAS is found at a property, the owner has to clean it up by a certain deadline. Some people are unhappy with these rules and are taking legal action. So basically, there are chemicals called PFAS that are causing problems in Florida’s water. Right now, there aren’t any good ways to clean it up, so cities and other responsible parties will have to spend a lot of money to keep an eye on the water quality. Some laws are being talked about in Florida to try to deal with the PFAS issue, but it might take a while for them to actually become laws. In the early 2000s, a lawsuit was filed in West Virginia involving the chemical PFAS, which can have negative health effects. The lawsuit was settled with about 80,000 people living near a DuPont plant, providing for medical monitoring and compensation for health issues. Since then, many more similar lawsuits have been filed, with one big case involving around 500 lawsuits being combined in a court in South Carolina. It is expected that more parties will join this lawsuit, including cities, utilities, and airports in Florida. DuPont, 3M, and Wolverine WorldWide, Inc. have settled lawsuits and agreed to pay millions of dollars for polluting water with PFAS chemicals in Ohio, West Virginia, Minnesota, and Michigan. Florida could also face legal issues related to PFAS pollution, which could be costly for public institutions. These legal implications could have long-term effects and high costs for the state. PFAS chemicals have been found in Florida’s water and soil, and the government is taking action to figure out the extent of the problem. This could lead to legal and regulatory changes in the near future. Stakeholders, like airports and cities, need to consider the potential impact on their organizations and decide how to respond. The U.S. Congress and Environmental Protection Agency have passed laws and regulations to address PFAS (a type of harmful chemical) contamination at airports and other sites. This includes rules for cleaning up contaminated groundwater and setting safe levels for PFAS in water and soil. Some states, like Florida, have their own rules for managing PFAS contamination. Lawsuits have also been filed against companies that produce PFAS. Several legal cases involving environmental contamination are ongoing, including lawsuits against companies like DuPont and 3M. These cases involve harmful chemicals like PFAs and are being litigated in various courts. Experts in the field, such as Jorge Caspary, an environmental consultant, and Ralph A. DeMeo, a lawyer, are involved in these cases. The Environmental and Land Use Law Section is also following these cases closely.

Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/pfapocalypse-now-the-pfas-firestorm-and-implications-for-florida/