On April 17, 2020, ITRC published its PFAS technical guidance that is the culmination of the efforts of a 400-person team over a three-year period that included public and private sector representatives. The guidance can be found here. According to ITRC, the Technical Guidance Document provides a summary of the current understanding of all
Department of Defense Issues PFAS Task Force Progress Report
On March 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD”) issued a progress report of its Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (“PFAS”) Task Force, which can be found here. DoD is encouraging a national solution to the issue. The Task Force has been exploring AFFF replacements as required by the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act
About PFAS and Emerging Contaminants
Regulatory attention is focused on the presence of certain man-made substances in the environment at trace levels (parts per trillion or ppt). The science regarding whether these trace levels cause harm is not well developed. However, there is growing awareness that some of these substances are detectable in nearly all U.S. blood samples, and they
Map of States with PFAS Regulations
PFAS State Survey: Standards and Guidance Values for PFAS in Groundwater, Drinking Water and Surface Water
Source: Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (“ITRC”) PFAS Fact Sheets updated as of August 31, 2020.
To see the specific state standards or guidance for groundwater, drinking water and surface water refer to PFAS Fact Sheets, PFAS Water and Soil
Regulatory Status of PFAS by U.S. EPA as of February 2020
EPA is working on a number of initiatives to regulate PFAS pursuant to the EPA PFAS Action Plan, and a number of timelines have been put in place as a result of the late 2019 enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (“NDAA”), see generally Sections 7301-7362. However, as of February
EWG Report Highlights Any PFAS Impact Over 1 ppt
On January 22, 2020, the Environmental Working Group, “EWG”, a U.S. activist organization, released a report contending that PFAS contamination of tap water is far more prevalent than previously reported. The EWG report was picked up by the national press and widely reported with headlines raising the alarm regarding the levels of PFAS in drinking
PFAS In EPA’s Fiscal Year 2021 Budget
On February 10, 2020, the Trump administration announced its proposed U.S. EPA budget for fiscal year 2021 of $6.7 billion down from $9.1 billion for fiscal year 2020, representing a 26% cut. While it is unlikely that the proposed budget cuts will be approved by Congress, it is notable that the proposed EPA budget included