EPA announces intent to defend PFAS hazardous substance designation

By Megan Quinn | Waste Drive | September 18, 2025

Read the full article by Megan Quinn (Waste Drive)

"News that Trump’s EPA plans to stick to the Biden-era hazardous substance designation for the two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances clears up some speculation over how the agency planned to address the rule after offering mixed signals on PFAS regulations earlier this year. The waste industry says the CERCLA designation will have a major impact on operations.

A judge has several times granted the EPA permission to pause the court case against it so the agency could review the CERCLA designation, leading some in the waste industry to wonder if the EPA would eventually announce its intent to throw out the rule.

In the Wednesday court document, the EPA noted it “has reviewed the underlying rule and has decided to keep the rule in place.” The document also indicates the court case, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, will now continue, with a tentative new hearing schedule due on Sept. 30."