EPA Releases PFAS Action Plan Update
Last week, EPA released its “PFAS Action Plan: Program Update,” that shares information about the Agency’s progress on Action Plan efforts to help states and local communities address PFAS and protect public health. The EPA PFAS Action was published in February 2019 and provides a comprehensive and coordinated approach that the Agency developed in response to public input and stakeholder engagement. This Program Update highlights a range of activities EPA has taken over the past year, including some that are focused on drinking water. Following is the list of those actions that also include some links to ASDWA’s related comments:
- PFAS Regulatory Determination: In February 2020, EPA made a drinking water regulatory determination for PFOA and PFOS. See EPA’s website for more information.
- TSCA Review for New Uses of PFAS: In February 2020, EPA issued a supplemental proposal to ensure that new uses of certain persistent long-chain PFAS chemicals in surface coatings cannot be manufactured or imported into the US without notification and review under TSCA.
- Including PFAS in Toxics Release Inventory Reporting: EPAissued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking in November 2019 and ASDWA worked with ACWA and ECOS to submit joint comments in January 2020.
- New Lab Method 533: In December 2019, EPA published new validated methodto accurately test for 11 additional PFAS in drinking water bringing the total to 29 PFAS.
- Funding for Research on Managing PFAS in Agriculture: In November 2019, EPA announced the availability of $4.8 million in funding.
- Interim Recommendations for Addressing Groundwater Contaminated with PFOA and PFOS: ASDWA provided comments in June 2019 and EPA issued the final interim recommendations in December 2019.
Some other EPA actions in the Plan that are still to come include: adding PFAS in the next Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5); determining if there is enough available data and research to support the development of Clean Water Act water quality criteria for PFAS; continuing through the regulatory development process for listing PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances; developing toxicity assessments for PFBA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFDA; and developing a risk communication toolbox.
View the press release and read the Program Update. For more information and to read the 2019 Action Plan, visit EPA’s website.
