A West Virginia chemical plant continues releasing toxic PFAS into the Ohio River, raising alarms among downstream water utilities and sparking questions about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ability to enforce pollution rules under the Trump administration.
Miranda Willson reports for E&E News.
In short:
- Chemours’ Washington Works plant continues discharging high levels of PFAS, including banned PFOA and the toxic GenX, despite a 2023 federal order meant to curb pollution. Downstream cities like Louisville and Cincinnati have detected PFAS spikes in drinking water sources.
- The EPA has yet to approve Chemours’ latest pollution control plan, after rejecting an earlier version deemed unsafe. State permits based on outdated standards have allowed continued violations, with limited enforcement.
- With the Trump administration cutting EPA staff and funding, experts fear a rollback of PFAS monitoring and regulation. Meanwhile, Chemours has increased production to meet Teflon demand from the semiconductor industry.
Key quote:
“There’s such a brain drain going on with this administration. The programs are limping along, even the most established ones. And the PFAS one was cutting-edge and just getting started.”
— Former EPA enforcement attorney
Why this matters:
The Ohio River, a drinking water source for millions, now carries a toxic burden from decades of PFAS dumping. Communities across the Midwest are facing rising contamination levels with little recourse. As companies like Chemours ramp up production of PFAS-laced materials to feed high-tech industries, pollution controls lag behind, and enforcement often stalls due to outdated permits or political pressure. The EPA’s regulatory efforts are vulnerable to staff shortages and budget cuts, just as scientific understanding of PFAS risks has advanced. Without aggressive oversight, the toxic legacy of PFAS could deepen, affecting public health and water safety for generations in places far removed from the original pollution source.
Learn more: Where did the PFAS in your blood come from? These computer models offer clues
