For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeff Tittel, NJ Sierra Club, 609-558-9100
Solvay Specialty Polymers is using unnamed “process aids” as a replacement for PFNA at its plant in West Deptford, NJ. Solvay refuses to name the chemicals being used and has released no information on the potential health impacts. They have provided toxicology information to both the US EPA and the NJDEP. Four environmental groups, including the NJ Sierra Club, sent two letters to DEP about this issue recently but we have received no response.
“New Jersey is under assault from new chemical compounds. Solvay has admitted to using unnamed chemical compounds as a replacement for PFAS. Replacement chemicals for PFAS could be as bad or worse than what we are getting rid of, but we have no regulations for these chemicals. This should be an alarm bell going off that we need stronger action from DEP when it comes to protecting our water from chemicals. We’ve sent a letter to DEP asking for action, but so far none has been taken,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Solvay is currently in the process of cleaning up its PFAS contamination in Paulsboro, but at the same time they are putting new chemicals into the environment and into us. This is concerning because they don’t yet know if these chemicals are dangerous.”
The Delaware Riverkeeper Network, New Jersey Sierra Club and others have sent two letters to DEP regarding a recent Science study and the use of PFAS replacement chemicals at the Solvay plant. The study mentioned, published in Science and led by an EPA research chemist, found a recently identified group of chemical compounds, called chloro-perfluoro-polyether-carboxylate compounds (ClPFPECAs), in soil samples taken across New Jersey. ClPFPECAs were specifically found in the area surrounding the Solvay plant.
“We have been asking the state for years to look into setting standards for PFAS replacement chemicals. We recently sent two letters to the DEP asking about the specifics of Solvay using ClPFPECAs or other replacement chemicals. We want to know if DEP will be adding ClPFPECAs to the Spill Act and Natural Resource Damage investigations against Solvay. We also want to know whether DEP is looking into this chemical compound and if they will start regulating it. However, DEP has not responded to either of our letters,” said Tittel. “ClPFPECAs have been found near the Solvay plant and are thought to be replacement chemicals for PFAS. It is alarming that companies like Solvay are using unregulated PFAS replacement chemicals.”
The Drinking Water Quality Institute (DWQI) held its first meeting since 2018 in September. The Institute said that it is looking into new replacement chemicals that have been found in New Jersey, like chloro-perfluoro-polyether-carboxylate compounds (ClPFPECAs) and GenX. Earlier this year, the DEP adopted new MCL standards of 14ppt for PFOA and 13ppt for PFOS. Now they need to look at regulating these new, unregulated chemicals.
“It is critical that the DWQI meet again soon to look at these new compounds and PFAS replacement chemicals like GenX and ClPFPECAs. They have to look at how PFAS and GenX react together and intermix in the human body. These chemicals could cause birth defects, respiratory problems, affect the liver and kidney, and even cause cancer. We need the DWQI to meet regularly because there are 500 chemicals that have been found in our water supplies that aren’t yet regulated by DEP,” said Tittel. “We have been asking the DEP to act, but they are still dragging their feet. We sent two letters to DEP about this and haven’t heard back. Every day of delay is another day that the people of New Jersey are drinking water that they shouldn’t be drinking.”
During the previous Administration, Governor Christie froze all rules and standards, including those recommended by the DWQI. For example, he froze and then rescinded the standard for perchlorate. The Institute was also working on standards for PFNA, PFC, chromium, and arsenic, but the DEP at the time failed to act on some of their recommendations. DEP staff also deliberately misled the legislature in Senate hearings under the previous Administration. Now, under the Murphy Administration, the DWQI has only met twice and the last meeting was a year and a half ago in December 2018.
“Given the fact that companies like Solvay are already using PFAS replacement chemicals, DEP needs to act quickly to look into these chemicals. The DWQI needs to be meeting every quarter like they are supposed to because this has been way too long. There are 500 other chemicals that DWQI hasn’t even had a chance to look at to set standards, like perchlorates, ClPFPECAs, PFAS, TCE and PCE. DEP needs to allow the DWQI to meet more regularly so that more drinking water standards can be set or amended. We can’t afford to wait another two years,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We need the strictest standards for these dangerous materials and we need them to be as strong as possible based on strict science. The longer they wait, the more people are put in danger.”