PFASs, or “forever chemicals,” are a class of chemicals that have been polluting our environment for decades—we’ve written about them here and here. Despite some industries voluntarily retiring the use of some PFAS, they’ve simply been replaced by newer chemicals that have similar effects and harms to human health and the environment.

John Oliver even discussed PFAS in depth on a recent segment. (This video contains adult language and may not be appropriate for children).

But they’re making news again because they continue to be a threat to public health and the environment, and the federal government is finally talking about addressing these forever chemicals in a comprehensive new plan announced today. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced a broad plan of action and roadmap with timelines over the next three years that set out to protect Americans and the environment from the harmful effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In a statement from the White House, the comprehensive strategy that includes eight agencies is taking steps “to control PFAS at its sources, hold polluters accountable, ensure science-based decision making, and address the impacts on disadvantaged communities.”

In case you haven’t heard of them, these specific chemicals are called “forever chemicals” because they can take hundreds, if not thousands, of years to break down. They’re in everyday items, such as food packaging, non-stick cookware, and water-repellent outdoor gear, but more importantly, they can be in your drinking water.

And they are not benign. They have been linked to cancer, immune system disruption and a range of other health issues like increased cholesterol, birth defects, and a decreased vaccine response in children. These chemicals have contaminated drinking water supplies across the country, especially around military sites, where PFAS-ridden firefighter foam has been used on runways and seeped into local water supplies.

The roadmap announced by the EPA today is a broad, sweeping effort to tackle PFAS contamination with the 3 main goals: “research, restrict, and remediate.”

You can read the full roadmap with action items and timelines on the EPA’s website, but here are a few highlights of what’s in the plan:

• Develop a national testing strategy for PFAS that will help accelerate research and regulatory development
• EPA will propose to designate PFOA and PFOS as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund law (CERCLA), which will help to start to clean up some of the most contaminated sites across the country.
• Accelerate the establishment of a national primary drinking water regulation for PFOA and