Articles Posted in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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In March, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin addressed top state environmental officials, highlighting the Agency’s priorities for the year ahead. Without committing the EPA to an official stance, Zeldin reaffirmed his commitment to “cooperative federalism” by engaging with states on environmental challenges ranging from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to permitting reform at the Environmental Council of States Spring Meeting. At the meeting, Zeldin told state officials the EPA is in the process of figuring out how to best address concerns coming from water utilities regarding the timing and funding of the substantial infrastructure investment required to meet the Biden-era PFAS standards.

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In a move that signals potential policy shifts under the new administration, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted EPA’s requests for 60-day stays in two high-profile cases challenging Biden-era PFAS regulations. The stays, issued on February 7 and February 25, 2025, temporarily pause litigation over EPA’s maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Safe Drinking Water Act and the agency’s designation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Both stays were requested by the EPA and its new administrator, Lee Zeldin, as the second Trump administration appears to be reassessing its approach to PFAS regulation. The move raises questions about whether the administration will revise or rescind these regulations.

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On October 1, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to add 16 individual per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as well as 15 PFAS categories, representing over 100 PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). This proposal would be a significant expansion to the database. EPA is also proposing to set a reporting threshold of 100 pounds for manufacture, processing and other uses, consistent with previously set PFAS TRI reporting requirements. As proposed, all the PFAS in one category would count toward the 100-pound threshold of a given category. Last, the proposal aims to clarify how PFAS are automatically added to the TRI under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) by clarifying how EPA finalizes toxicity values.

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On September 30, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice seeking comment on the manufacture of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during the fluorination of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is used to produce plastic containers used for various household consumer, commercial and industrial products. The notice marks the latest step in EPA’s attempt to regulate plastic fluorination and potential concurrent PFAS contamination under Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

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The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) has been regulating new and existing chemicals for almost 50 years. Under the TSCA, the EPA was given broad authority to track the thousands of existing commercial chemicals and regulate any new chemicals before they enter the market.

The TSCA requires manufacturers that intend to use a chemical that is designated as a “significant new use” to notify the EPA at least 90 days before they manufacture, import or process the chemical for that use, i.e., the “significant new use rule” (SNUR). This pre-manufacture notice requirement gives the EPA the opportunity to evaluate the potential use and, if necessary, to place restrictions on the chemical or prohibit its use to manage any risks before they can occur.

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On April 19, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its long-awaited rule designating two PFAS compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund). The final rule will take effect 60 days after EPA publishes it in the Federal Register.

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The Biden Administration is continuing its efforts to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). On April 15, 2024, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) completed its review of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal designating two PFAS compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

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On April 10, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act to establish Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for five per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS):

  • Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
  • Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)
  • Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
  • Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX)
  • Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)

Additionally, EPA required the use of the Hazard Index to establish site-specific limitations for PFAS mixtures of two or more of PFHxS, GenX, PFNA, and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS).

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is continuing its push to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Just last week, the agency’s revised PFAS regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) cleared a key regulatory hurdle and could be finalized in the very near future. Similarly, the agency continues to review stakeholder comments on its proposal to designate two PFAS compounds as hazardous substances, under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or “Superfund”), and a recent Congressional hearing on EPA’s proposal signals continued interest from Capitol Hill on PFAS issues. EPA also faces a looming deadline; the agency must finalize rules by mid-May or else risk the possibility of the 2024 election causing a change in administration and control of Congress, leading to repeal of rules under the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

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The clock is winding down on businesses interested in commenting on EPA’s proposal to designate nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous constituents under the Resource Conservation and Recover Act (RCRA). See Listing of Specific PFAS as Hazardous Constituents (89 Fed. Reg. 8,606, Feb. 8, 2023).

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