On February 14, 2019, U.S. EPA issued a comprehensive Action Plan for addressing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in environmental media. The Action Plan, which was developed in response to significant public input received by EPA over the past year, describes EPA’s short- and long-term multi-media and multi-program approach for addressing PFAS. Notable activities that EPA will implement under the Action Plan include: establishing a maximum contaminant level for PFOA and PFOS under the Safe Drinking Water Act; strengthening the Agency’s enforcement authorities and clarifying cleanup strategies by designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances; proposing nationwide drinking water monitoring for PFAS to inform regulatory action; adding PFAS to to the Toxics Release Inventory; conducting scientific research to better understand and manage PFAS risks; and developing a risk communication plan to disseminate PFAS information to the public.
Per the Action Plan, activities that EPA anticipates implementing in 2019 include proposing a national drinking water regulatory determination for PFOA and PFOS, and developing interim cleanup recommendations to address groundwater contaminated with PFOA and PFAS. The Action Plan notes that EPA will continue to engage other federal agencies, states, industry groups and associations, and the public in its implementation of the Action Plan.