Yes, patchwork makes for great quilts but not for environmental regulation and PFAS are no exception

This morning, Inside EPA reports on the challenges the regulated community faces because the Federal Government is considerably behind several states in the race to regulate any number of the hundreds if not thousands of "forever chemicals" known generically PFAS.

The former EPA official quoted is absolutely correct that, generally speaking, the regulated community prefers one standard to many standards.  Who wouldn't?  But, when it comes to PFAS, more than a dozen states have already acted and those who might hope that Congress will preempt what those states have already decided in favor of Federal answers to the same questions  certainly don't have history on their side.

We know that nearly all Federal environmental requirements are floors, not ceilings, with the States free to impose more stringent requirements.  PFAS are unlikely to be an exception to this rule.  That doesn't mean the Federal government should throw up its hands.  States may choose to defer to the Federal Government's judgments on PFAS, especially if the Federal Government has science on their side.