On November 16, the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (“EQB”) voted to approve the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (“PADEP”) proposed rule to set binding regulatory standards, known as maximum contaminant limits (“MCLs”) for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. As discussed in an earlier post, the proposed rule would set those limits at 14
EPA Publishes Draft PFAS Analytical Method for Array of Environmental Media
This past August, EPA published Draft Method 1633 – Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (“PFAS”) in Aqueous, Solid, Biosolids, and Tissue Samples by LC-MS/MS. Once, finalized, this single laboratory validated method will be available for 40 PFAS compounds (including Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)) in
Industry Specific Effluent Limitation Guidelines for PFAS Are Coming – EPA’s Preliminary Plan 15
In September, EPA set forth its latest draft plan for setting guidelines for PFAS limitations in industrial wastewater in certain industries, and October brought public comments on the draft. Among EPA’s next steps in its September 2021 Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Preliminary Plan 15) are:
- a rulemaking process to set new limitations on
PA Independent Regulatory Review Commission Approves Rulemaking with PFOA and PFOS Cleanup Standards
On September 23, 2021, the Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) approved a final form rulemaking that revises the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (PADEP) regulations that implement that Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act (Act 2).
As we discussed in a previous post, this regulatory revision includes the following new groundwater
New Pennsylvania PFOS and PFOA Cleanup Standards Reach Final Major Regulatory Hurdle
The process to revise regulations in Pennsylvania is often long and involved, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (PADEP) revision to its Act 2 Chapter 250 regulations to incorporate cleanup standards for three per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has proved to be no exception. PADEP first published its regulatory proposal in the Pennsylvania Bulletin
Pennsylvania Moves One Step Closer to Issuance of Drinking Water Standards for PFOA and PFOS
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
California Proposes Public Health Goals for PFOA and PFOS
On July 22, 2021 the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (“OEHHA”) released a Draft Technical Support Document proposing a public health goal (“PHG”) of 0.007 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 1 ppt for PFOS. OEHHA also proposed noncancer health-protective concentrations of 3 ppt for PFOA and 2 ppt for PFOS. The
California Requires PFAS Investigation at Refineries and Terminals Statewide
The California State Water Resources Control Board (“State Water Board”) has issued an Order to approximately 160 bulk fuel storage terminals and refineries in California requiring implementation of a PFAS site investigation. The State Water Board identified the recipients of the Order on the basis that they had stored and/or used materials that may contain
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
California Expands Review of PFOS, PFOA to Include Cancer Risk
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is expanding its review of potential substances to add to its Proposition 65 list of chemicals that cause cancer.
Earlier this year, the state announced it intended to add perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) to the list. After the public comment periods ended for