At its July 29, 2021 meeting, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“Department”)’s Public Water System Technical Assistance Center (TAC) Board voted to recommend that the Department proceed with a draft proposed rulemaking to set maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in drinking water for certain PFAS compounds. The Department has proposed drinking water levels of 14
Surface Water Data in Pennsylvania Identifies PFAS in Multiple Locations Statewide
The march toward regulation of PFAS in Pennsylvania continues (see our recent post on statewide public water system sampling results), with the release of final data from sampling conducted in September 2019 of surface waters throughout the Commonwealth. The study, a collaboration among the U.S. Geological Service (“USGS”), the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and
Pennsylvania Reports the Results of the Second Round of Statewide PFAS Sampling
On March 12, 2021 the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”) announced the results of the second round of testing public water systems for PFAS. PFAS were not detected in 65% of the 114 water systems sampled and none of the results were above the U.S. EPA Health Advisory Level (“HAL”) of 70 ppt for
EPA Takes Two More Steps Down the Long and Winding Road to National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for PFAS
In the March 3, 2021 Federal Register, EPA issued its final regulatory determinations for substances on the fourth Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (“CCL 4”). Under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA is required to publish a list every five years of chemicals that are known or suspected to be found in public drinking
NJDEP Issues Final Rule Regulating PFOA and PFOS
On June 1, 2020, NJDEP published its final rule (52 N.J.R. 1165(b)) setting drinking water standards, also known as maximum contaminant levels or “MCLs,” and final groundwater standards for the PFAS compounds perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (“PFOS”) pursuant to the New Jersey Safe Drinking Water Act, N.J.S.A. 58:12A-1, et seq., and the
SCREENING LEVELS VS. HEALTH ADVISORY LEVELS
On December 20, 2019, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its Interim Recommendations for Addressing Groundwater Contaminated with Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) under federal cleanup programs, such the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA’s guidance recommends the use of
Dover Air Force Base Installs House Water Filtration Systems to Address PFAS Exceedances in Groundwater
Dover Air Force Base (DAFB) installed house water filtration systems at four off-base properties in Dover, Delaware. The wells supplying water to those properties were found to have levels of PFOS and PFOA in excess of the 70 parts per trillion Health Advisory Level. The properties will continue to receive bottled water until DAFB is
Illinois Initiates PFAS Sampling Process and Releases Draft Amendments to Groundwater Standards for PFAS
In 2019, the Attorney General of Illinois joined in a letter with 22 other states in urging Congress to address the public health threat associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This approach was no surprise, as the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) had, since 2018, determined that it was time to start assessing PFAS
EPA Releases 2019 Year in Review, Including Summary of PFAS Actions
Earlier this year, the EPA put out its annual Year in Review, summarizing its major accomplishments for 2019 across the full breadth of the agency’s program activities. With respect to PFAS, EPA identified the following key milestones achieved during the year relating to the issuance of its PFAS Action Plan in February 2019, and