August 25, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted a pre-publication Federal Register notice proposing to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, also known as Superfund). Once the proposal is published in the Federal Register there will be a 60-day public comment period.
“Upon designation, any person in charge of a vessel or an offshore or onshore facility, as soon as they have knowledge of any release of such substances at or above the reportable quantity (RQ) must immediately report such releases to the Federal, state, tribal and local authorities (CERCLA section 103(a), Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) section 304). The RQ for these designations is 1 pound or more in a 24-hour period. Once EPA has collected more data on the size of releases and the resulting risks to human health and the environment, the Agency may consider issuing a regulation adjusting the reportable quantities for these substances. The five broad categories of entities potentially affected by this action include: (1) PFOA and/or PFOS manufacturers (including importers and importers of articles); (2) PFOA and/or PFOS processors; (3) manufacturers of products containing PFOA and/or PFOS; (4) downstream product manufacturers and users of PFOA and/or PFOS products; and (5) waste management and wastewater treatment facilities.”
Link to information on EPA website:
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-proposes-designating-certain-pfas-chemicals-hazardous-substances-under-superfund
Link to NPR article:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/two-forever-chemicals-to-be-named-hazardous-substances-says-epa-official
Link to article on CNN website:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/26/health/pfas-epa-forever-chemicals-hazardous-wellness/index.html
