"A federal court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit alleging US regulators failed to prevent widespread contamination of farmland with toxic PFAS chemicals was based on a “flawed interpretation” of the Clean Water Act, creating “dangerous real-world consequences for public health,” a watchdog group argued in a new court filing.
The appeal from Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) is the latest move in a battle over policy issues surrounding sewage sludge contamination. PEER sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2024 on behalf of two Texas farm families who experienced health problems after their properties were contaminated with PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals contained in sewage sludge spread as fertilizer on a neighboring property. Johnson County, Texas, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network were also plaintiffs in the suit.
In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs alleged that the EPA’s failure to take action against PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge spread on farmland across the country is enabling the contamination of “millions of acres” of land with PFAS."
