On November 2, 2022, from 2:30 to 4:00 pm (ET) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a webinar to “…prepare communities for how to get involved and provide EPA with their input on the upcoming proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Safe Drinking Water Act.”
EPA’s statement on what webinar will not cover: “During the webinar, EPA will not be discussing the specific requirements of the proposed PFAS drinking water regulation. That information will be available once the proposed rule is issued.”
Here is EPA’s list of topics to be covered during the November 2nd webinar:
• What are PFAS and how do they impact drinking water
• How EPA develops a drinking water regulation
• EPA’s timeline and activities associated with the proposed PFAS drinking water regulation
• What happens after the regulation is proposed and how can communities provide their input to EPA
• Where to go for more information
Registration is required to join the webinar. Link to register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/engaging-in-epas-upcoming-proposed-pfas-drinking-water-regulatory-process-tickets-433129149947
Background:
The Safe Drinking Water Act as amended in 1996 requires that every five years EPA is to create a list of contaminants that are currently unregulated and may require regulation in the future. These lists are referred to as the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL). Within five (5) years of a CCL being published final, EPA is to publish a formal determination (“Regulatory Determination”) whether or not to regulate at least five contaminants on the previous list. EPA has proposed and finalized four CCLs. The fourth CCL included PFOS and PFOA. In March 2021 EPA published a decision to move forward with development drinking water regulations for PFOS and PFOA. EPA’s stated intent is to publish the proposed MCLs in the fall of 2022 and publish the final enforceable standards in fall 2023. On October 6, 2022, EPA submitted the proposed MCLs for PFOS and PFOA to the Office of Management and Budget for their review. There are no details available. This would be the final step before EPA proposes the MCLs for public comment.
