EPA Announces Nationwide Actions to Combat PFAS Contamination

In a major policy announcement, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin unveiled a comprehensive plan to address contamination from Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). The announcement includes science, regulatory, and enforcement measures aimed at reducing PFAS pollution with an aim to ensure clean air, land, and water across the country.

Key actions include the appointment of an agency lead to coordinate PFAS efforts, the development of new effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for industries that discharge PFAS, and a push to establish a liability framework that ensures polluters—not passive receivers—are held responsible.

The EPA’s PFAS strategy is organized around three main priorities:

• Strengthening the science, including expanding PFAS testing and monitoring, improving detection technologies, and implement a testing strategy under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) informed by hazard characteristics and exposure pathways.
• Fulfilling statutory obligations and improving communication, such as the development of effluent limitation guidelines (ELGs) for industry, determining how to better use RCRA, enforcing Clean Water Act and TSCA requirements, and achieving more effective outcomes by prioritizing risk-based review of new and existing PFAS chemicals.
• Building partnerships, with a focus on supporting state and tribal cleanup efforts including review of pending state air petitions, development of analytical and risk assessment tools, and coordinating enforcement efforts to hold polluters accountable.

Read the entire press release.

Learn more about how Eurofins can help with your PFAS testing needs.