Suozzi calls on EPA's Zeldin to uphold new PFAS water standards to protect Long Island

WASHINGTON — Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin is being urged to recall his own congressional battles on behalf of Long Islanders and not "reverse course" on federal rules to address harmful levels of so-called "forever chemicals" from drinking water.

"I know you understand these issues and their impacts on Long Island intimately," Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) wrote Friday to Zeldin, who as a Republican from Suffolk County served in the U.S. House from 2015-23.

The issues raised by Suozzi are national concerns. But much of his letter takes on the personal tone of a Long Island congressman appealing to a former colleague who had shared a same cause — even if Zeldin is now serving in President Donald Trump’s cabinet. Both men also share being former New York candidates for governor for their respective parties.

The letter mostly targets the recent decision by the environmental agency under Zeldin to delay by two years, to 2031, a deadline for water utilities or public water systems to comply with new federal water standards for the targeted polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

That extended a previous deadline finalized during the administration of former President Joe Biden. Suozzi’s letter argues against any such compliance delay, noting studies — including from the National Institutes of Health — have found PFAS in drinking water is associated with a higher incidence of a variety of cancers.

Suozzi reminded Zeldin, "As you are well aware, Long Island’s sole source aquifer contains high levels of PFAS from which the public must be protected. ... When we served together in Congress, we both voted for aggressive legislation that targeted these ‘forever chemicals.’ ... Long Island has long been notorious for its sky-high breast cancer rates."

Asked about Suozzi’s letter, the EPA press office in an email to Newsday said the agency “will review the letter and respond through the appropriate channels. “

The EPA’s statutory responsibility under the Safe Drinking Water Act, Suozzi wrote, is to ensure that Americans’ drinking water is protected from PFAS and other contaminants. "Extending compliance deadlines, weakening standards, and rescinding regulations" has no place in such a strategy, the letter said.

"I therefore respectfully urge you to reverse course and instead focus on helping water suppliers meet the EPA’s existing standards as quickly as possible by providing funding and technical assistance to help suppliers add the necessary filtration equipment," Suozzi wrote.