States are beginning to act on what one industry expert called this year’s “headline emerging issue” for the environmental sector—the cleanup of fluorinated chemicals in at least 40 states that could affect at least 1,500 drinking water systems.

The U.S. State Dept. is wading into environmental waters to address British Columbia mining pollution that affects a watershed in northwestern Montana, after a wastewater treatment plant intended to remove pollution appears to have worsened the problem.