Inhofe presses White House on forever chemical foot-dragging

As he pressed the Biden administration for a timetable on the cleanup of “forever” chemicals used on military bases in the U.S., Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe didn’t get the answers he sought in a recent Senate committee hearing.

It was during a hearing by the Environment and Public Works Committee of which Inhofe is a member where he pressed Brenda Mallory who chairs the Council on Environmental Quality about who in the administration is stalling the incineration by military bases of the forever chemicals. And he questioned her about a timetable.

Those forever chemicals are Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS)-contaminated materials used by the Department of Defense mostly in firefighting efforts.

“Nothing is being done and I came to this meeting because it’s apparent the White House that is stopping this, or delaying it. Is it being stopped or delayed? Can you inform me as to the status of this?” asked the Senator of Mallory.

“What I can say about it, Senator, is that we are having conversations with DOD about this guidance. I did not perceive us as stopping or even delaying it, but we are having conversations with them about what is their plan and what’s necessary to address this issue,” replied Mallory under the Senator’s pointed questions.

“But aren’t you precluding them from doing the cleanup?” asked Inhofe.

“What I asked DOD to do was to pull together the information so that we can have a briefing for everyone about what their plan is,” answered Mallory. “I did not preclude them from doing anything.”

The Senator obviously wasn’t satisfied.

“You have nothing here today, you’ll be able to share with me, in terms of when we’ll be able to clean up this mess.”

“No Senator, I will definitely be getting back to you on this. It might be today, but it won’t be while I’m sitting here,” replied Mallory.

“Alright, you made that clear. How long do you think it will be? Give me a time frame,” said the Senator.

“Well, I commit to you that we’ll get back to you, certainly by the end of the week where we are on the issue,” said Mallory.

Click here to view Inhofe’s full remarks.