EPA

Finally! First PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation is Final

Finally! First PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation is Final

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the nation’s first ever PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) is now final. The final rule, announced on April 10, 2024, establishes legally enforceable maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water. The PFAS compounds that are part of the final rule and their associated MCLs include

Significant Impact of Proposed RCRA PFAS-Related Rules

Significant Impact of Proposed RCRA PFAS-Related Rules

As part of a significant update to RCRA, the U.S. EPA announced proposed rule amendments  to add nine PFAS compounds as hazardous constituents.  The proposed addition of these nine PFAS compounds as hazardous constituents is expected to have a wide-ranging impact on the environmental industry.

EPA Finalizes PFAS Data Rule in TSCA

EPA Finalizes PFAS Data Rule in TSCA

The U.S. EPA recently finalized a rule that will provide the largest-ever dataset of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) manufactured and used in the United States. The finalized reporting rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is a statutory requirement with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA - FY2020).

EPA Holds Public Hearing on Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

EPA Holds Public Hearing on Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a public hearing on May 4, 2023  to hear comments on the proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR).  The public hearing was a follow-up of the EPA’s announcement on March 14, 2023 about the PFAS NPDWR proposed rule. 

The U.S. EPA Issues the Next TSCA Test Order Under National PFAS Testing Strategy

The U.S. EPA Issues the Next TSCA Test Order Under National PFAS Testing Strategy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally announced the issuance of the next Toxic Substances Contract Act (TSCA) test order requiring PFAS testing.  The new test order is being made under the National PFAS Testing Strategy. The EPA announced the action on January 4, 2023, which orders companies to conduct and submit testing for the PFAS substance HFPO. HFPO (CAS # 428-59-1), also known as trifluoro(trifluoromethyl)oxirane, is used in plastics manufacturing.  

EPA Announces Plans for PFAS Wastewater Regulations

EPA Announces Plans for PFAS Wastewater Regulations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Plan 15) to protect the nation’s waterways. According to the EPA Plan 15 will follow the science and the Clean Water Act to develop technology-based pollution limits and studies on wastewater discharges from industrial sources. 

U.S. EPA Creates Interactive PFAS Analytic Tools

U.S. EPA Creates Interactive PFAS Analytic Tools

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched interactive PFAS Analytic Tools to integrate data about PFAS reporting, testing, and occurrences in communities, making it easier to evaluate the collective PFAS information from nearly a dozen different databases that include relevant information.

US EPA Approves Merit Laboratories for UCMR 5 PFAS Testing

US EPA Approves Merit Laboratories for UCMR 5 PFAS Testing

The U.S. EPA officially approved Merit Laboratories to perform analytical laboratory testing for PFAS compounds as part of the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UMCR5). As part of UCMR5, Merit Laboratories is approved for analytical methods EPA 533 and EPA 537.1. UCMR 5 includes all 29 PFAS compounds that are within the scope of EPA Methods 533 and 537.1.

PFOA and PFOS Proposed for Designation as CERCLA Hazardous Substances

PFOA and PFOS Proposed for Designation as CERCLA Hazardous Substances

In an expected move, the U.S. EPA is officially proposing a rule to add both perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under Superfund (CERCLA). EPA made the announcement on August 25, 2022, in a pre-publication notice in the Federal Register.