ERG Helps Develop Tools to Communicate About Environmental Contaminants

ERG is proud to support the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in developing its PFAS Analytic Tools. These web tools, housed on EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online website, provide the public, researchers, and regulatory agencies with current, place-based information from 11 information sources that characterize the life cycle of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the United States. Working in close coordination with EPA staff across multiple programs, ERG is responsible for data acquisition, documentation, and Qlik development.

Often called “forever chemicals,” PFAS are highly persistent in the environment. The location-based PFAS information housed in the tools includes PFAS production facilities, facilities potentially handling PFAS (of interest because there is limited reporting on the use of these chemicals), releases, and locations where testing for contaminated water, soil, and sediment has occurred. This information is linked to community demographics—such as the information housed in EPA’s EJScreen application—which will help users better understand potential PFAS sources and exposures, as well as the cumulative burden of exposures from multiple sources.

To hear EPA’s perspective on this project, check out Federal News Network’s interview with EPA staff who describe the development process, content, and end uses of these crucial tools.