Aaryn Jones

PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA's Commitments to Action 

Aaryn Jones, Emerging Contaminants Coordinator, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4

EPA Administrator Michael Regan released the comprehensive PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA’s Commitments to Action 2021-2024 in October 2021, outlining the Agency’s plans to confront PFAS contamination nationwide. EPA’s Roadmap is centered on three guiding strategies: Increase investments in research, leverage authorities to take action now to restrict PFAS chemicals from being released into the environment, and accelerate the cleanup of PFAS contamination. This talk will provide a multimedia update on the EPA’s PFAS Roadmap including commitments met thus far, and anticipated timelines for current and future actions.

Aaryn Jones is the Emerging Contaminants Coordinator for EPA Region 4 in Atlanta, GA, where she serves as the regional point of contact for multimedia PFAS issues and leads a Regional PFAS workgroup. Aaryn has been with EPA Region 4 for over 14 years and most recently served as the Special Assistant to the Regional Administrator. Prior to that role, Aaryn was a physical scientist and enforcement officer in the Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division, where she worked directly with states, tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and regulated entities on Underground Storage Tank enforcement and corrective action, Brownfields project management, and RCRA hazardous waste enforcement and corrective action.  Aaryn holds a BS in Chemistry and MS in Analytical Chemistry from East Carolina University, and an MS in Environmental Chemistry from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. Her educational and research background has included novel green chemistry analytical method development, studying environmental fate, transport, and treatment of persistent halogenated contaminants in soil and groundwater, and fluoropolymer chemistry.