The EPA is addressing PFAS concerns with a comprehensive approach through its PFAS Strategic Roadmap. Many concrete steps are already underway, including:
In Drinking Water
✓ EPA is developing maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in drinking water for PFOA/PFOS and has committed to finalizing these levels by the end of 2023.
✓ EPA will soon begin collecting national drinking water occurrence data for 29 PFAS for which validated text methods exist as part of the Agency’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5).
✓ EPA is developing methods for detecting a broader range of PFAS in environmental media beyond drinking water.
In Commerce
✓ EPA has identified about 600 PFAS chemistries currently in commerce to determine the most appropriate approach to prioritizing the review of this large and diverse group of chemistries.
✓ EPA issued expanded significant new use restrictions (SNURs) that will prevent the reintroduction of PFAS that are no longer manufactured into US markets without first undergoing thorough review by the Agency.
✓ EPA has developed and implemented a robust strategy for evaluating development of new PFAS prior to introduction to US markets.
For Toxicity Testing
✓ EPA has developed a national PFAS testing strategy that divides this large class of substances into various subgroups to add in the prioritization for testing and evaluation.
✓ EPA has developed toxicity values for several priority PFAS and is currently conducting assessments of additional substances.
For the Environment
✓ EPA has made interim recommendations for acceptable levels of the two most commonly detected, PFOA and PFOS, in groundwater.
✓ EPA has used its emergency authority under various laws to eliminate exposure to PFAS and expedite cleanup of contamination.
✓ EPA has added more than 180 PFAS to its Toxic Release Inventory requiring that release of these substances to air and water from industrial sources be reported annually.
✓ EPA has initiated efforts to categorize and prioritize industrial sources of PFAS to limit the release of PFAS to US surface and ground water.
✓ EPA has proposed to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, or Superfund) to better monitor releases of these two substances and to assist in the identification of parties responsible for contamination.
✓ EPA has established a multi-disciplined research staff team focused on the removal, destruction, and testing of PFAS-contaminated media and waste.