PFOS
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EPA Drops First Set of UCMR 5 Data

U.S. EPA released the first set of data collected by public water systems (PWS) pursuant to the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). UCMR 5 required PWS serving more than 10,000 customers to sample for 29 specific per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer… Continue reading
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Incorporating PFAS in Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permits to Minimize Risk or Extent of Future CERCLA Liability

PFAS are being detected in drinking water systems across the United States. Moreover, evolving regulatory developments already require or soon will require that public water systems sample for and remediate these chemicals (see, e.g., here). Continue reading
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PFAS in Consumer Products

Developing a Proactive and Strategic Game Plan Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products continue to be in the regulatory and litigation spotlight in 2023. Manufacturers and downstream businesses should be actively preparing to comply with the continually evolving patchwork of federal and state PFAS laws, as well as taking steps to minimize litigation risks.… Continue reading
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U.S. EPA Adopts Expanded Definition of PFAS on Its Drinking Water Contaminants List

On November 2, 2022, U.S. EPA released the pre-publication version of the fifth contaminant candidate list (CCL 5) containing 66 chemicals, 12 microbes, and three chemical groups (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), cyanotoxins, and disinfection byproducts. Continue reading
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OMB Throws Potential Speed Bump in Front of U.S. EPA’s Efforts to Designate PFAS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances

On August 12, 2022, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) completed its review of U.S. EPA’s proposed rule to designate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as CERCLA hazardous substances. Continue reading
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How Low Can You Go—U.S. EPA Attempts to Answer that Question With New PFAS Health Advisory Levels

U.S. EPA issued its long anticipated interim updated drinking water health advisories for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) that replace previous health advisories for these per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that had been set at 70 parts per trillion (ppt). Continue reading
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U.S. EPA Updates Regional Screening Levels to Add Five New PFAS Chemicals

On May 18, 2022, U.S. EPA updated its Regional Screening Level tables to include five new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The five new PFAS compounds added to the RSL tables are hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid and its ammonium salt (HFPO-DA – sometimes referred to as GenX chemicals), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic… Continue reading
CERCLA, Climate Change, Contamination, Emerging Contaminants, Groundwater, RCRA, Sustainability, WaterAgency for Toxic Substances and Disease, ammonium salt, CERCLA, Contamination, Corporate Environmental Lawyer, EPA, GenX chemicals, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid, HFPO-DA, industrial soil, Jenner & Block, perfluorononanoic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFAS, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS, Polyfluoroalkyl, RCRA, Regional Screening Level, remediation, RSL, Steven M. Siros, tap water -
U.S. EPA’s Addition of 1-BP to CERCLA Hazardous Substance List Likely Precursor to Similar Actions on PFAS

On April 8, 2022, U.S. EPA added the industrial solvent 1-bromopropane (1-BP) to its list of CERCLA hazardous substances; this listing was triggered by U.S. EPA’s decision to add 1-BP to the Clean Air Act’s list of hazardous air pollutants in January 2022. Continue reading
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PFOA and PFAS Take Another Step Towards Becoming Full-Fledged Members of the CERCLA Family of Hazardous Substances

On January 10, 2022, U.S. EPA forwarded a proposed rule that seeks to designate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Although not unexpected since this was a key element of U.S. EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap, U.S. EPA’s proposed rule is unique… Continue reading
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New PFAS Additions to the Proposition 65 List

Over the past week, several new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been added to California’s Proposition 65 list. In March 2021, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) selected perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and its salt and transformation and degradation precursors for evaluation by California’s Carcinogenic Identification Committee (CIC). OEHHA also selected perfluoronanoic acid (PFNA) and… Continue reading
