CNMI officials say EPA rollback on PFAS could have silver lining

05/21/2025—While drawing some concern, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to weaken some national limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water could have a silver lining.

CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality Safe Drinking Water Program manager Travis Spaeth said the recent rollback on regulations on PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—could have some positive points.

“It is less stringent by eliminating a few of the analytes from the regulations, namely PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA (commonly known as GenX Chemicals),” he said in an email to Marianas Press.

Spaeth, who is also BECQ’s chief engineer, said EPA’s decision will also allow more time for utilities and public water systems to assess and install treatment for PFAS by pushing back the MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) dates, while also maintaining the same PFOA and PFOS MCLs.

“It will allow CNMI PWS a little more time for pilot studies to optimize treatment. The CNMI already has MCLs for PFAS which shouldn't change and we have the option to amend our regulations as needed or as information changes.”

While the relaxed timeline offers some flexibility, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation said the problem on PFAS and remains urgent.

“CUC will continue its efforts to construct facilities to treat PFAS and PFOA contaminants resulting from firefighting foam. The EPA rollback will provide additional time to meet these requirements. However, the CNMI already has regulations in place at 70 ppt for PFAS and PFOA. CUC remains committed to implementing methodologies to remove PFAS and PFOA from our drinking water,” said CUC executive director Kevin Watson.

The Northern Marianas Professional Firefighters Union, Local 5335, meanwhile, voiced frustration with the EPA’s move to ease regulations.

“We are pretty disappointed in the easing of PFAS restrictions,” the union stated. “We all know how dangerous the concentration is in certain agents that we use for fire suppression. This does not stop us in encouraging best practices to our firefighters to prevent exposures to it.”

The CNMI Office of the Attorney General is currently pursuing legal action against companies responsible for the contamination and Public Water Systems on Saipan may be eligible for monetary relief under class action settlements related to PFAS contamination. NMPFU, Local 5335 said two from Saipan have joined the lawsuit. 

PFAS are an entire suite of synthetic chemicals used in firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, water-repellent fabrics, and food packaging. They are known to persist in the environment and the human body, leading to potential health effects such as cancer, liver damage, and developmental delays.

The EPA last week announced it will maintain the strictest limits for two of the most common PFAS chemicals—PFOA and PFOS—at 4 parts per trillion, but will delay compliance deadlines and eliminate limits for several other compounds, including PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX chemicals. Utilities now have until 2031 to meet the standards.

In a seminar hosted by Northern Marianas College’s Environmental and Natural Resources Organization last May 8, Spaeth said 64 of 73 CUC wells recently tested positive for PFOS, with six showing levels up to 10 times higher than the EPA's new threshold. South-central and southern Saipan are among the hardest hit.

“These compounds are everywhere,” he said. “They’re in our water, soil, air, even in the food we eat. And because they don’t break down easily, they’re incredibly difficult to remove.”

ENRO President Mark “Anufat” Pangelinan, a natural resources management major, helped moderate the public forum.

“Growing up, we always knew that we shouldn’t drink the faucet water,” he said. “But I never realized just how severe the contamination was.”

Story by Mark Rabago