Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Critical Rule to Clean up PFAS Contamination to Protect Public Health. EPA action designates two widely used PFAS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, improving transparency and accountability to clean up PFAS contamination in communities.
Today, April 19, 2024, marks a significant milestone in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ongoing mission to safeguard public health from the dangers of “forever chemicals” across the nation. Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS have long been associated with serious health risks, including cancers, liver and heart impacts, and developmental damage in infants and children. In a decisive move, the EPA has finalized a groundbreaking rule designating two prevalent PFAS chemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) commonly known as Superfund This designation underscores the agency’s commitment to holding polluters accountable for their contamination and ensuring comprehensive cleanup efforts.
By taking this final action, the EPA empowers authorities to investigate and remediate PFOA and PFOS contamination effectively, while also mandating the reporting of leaks, spills, and other releases. This pivotal step builds upon recent standards established to protect communities from PFAS contamination in drinking water, aligning with the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader efforts to safeguard public health and the environment. This final rule will be effective beginning June 19, 2024.
Read the announcement here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-finalizes-critical-rule-clean-pfas-contamination-protect
For more information on PFAS contact Andy Basehoar, P.G., LSRP, Site Remediation Program Manager at andyb@ttienv.com
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