New York: The Nation's Most Protective MCLs for PFOA/PFOS Accepted
8 Jul 2019
New York's Health Commissioner has accepted the Drinking Water Quality Council's recommendation to adopt MCLs of 10 ppt for PFOA and 10 ppt for PFOS. These levels are the lowest in the nation. Once adopted, the Environmental Facilities Corporation and the Department of Environmental Conservation will closely coordinate with the Department of Health to help fund and remediate water systems that test above the new maximum contaminant levels.
Europe: GenX declared a Substance of Very High Concern
28 Jun 2019
The EU Member State Committee voted to identify HFPO-DA (aka. GenX), as a substance of very high concern due to its probable serious effects on human health and the environment.
Michigan: Recommended PFAS health-based drinking water values
27 Jun 2019
Michigan Science Advisory Workgroup's recommended health-based drinking water values for 7 PFAS. This information will be used to develop regulatory drinking water standards for PFAS by April 2020.
Senate vote requires military, EPA to deal with harmful 'forever chemicals'
27 Jun 2019
The Senate passed the 2020 Defense Spending Bill including a bipartisan amendment that would commission the U.S. Geological Survey to track PFAS contamination nationwide and require public utilities to test drinking water for PFAS. The House is expected to vote on this legislation in July.
Wisconsin: Dept. of Health Services recommends 20 ppt groundwater quality standard for PFOA and PFOS
21 Jun 2019
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued its recommendations for groundwater quality standards for PFOA and PFOS.
Canada: Airports move to fluorine-free foam
21 Jun 2019
Canadian Aviation Regulations have recently changed to allow airports to use environmentally friendly fluorine-free firefighting foam rather than PFAS.
Massachusetts: PFAS Drinking Water Standard (MCL) Development
20 Jun 2019
MassDEP is in the process of establishing a PFAS MCL of 20 ppt (applicable to the SUM of concentrations for PFDA, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOS & PFOA). Written comments are due by COB on July 19, 2019.
U.S. State Action on PFAS
31 May 2019
Numerous U.S. states have been active this year in pursuing policies to protect public health from PFAS. Safer States provides a nationwide bill tracker.
U.S. Congress: H.R. 2377, the “Protect Drinking Water from PFAS Act of 2019”
31 May 2019
Reps. Boyle (D-PA) and Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced a bill that require the EPA to set a drinking water maximum contaminant level for total per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to protect public health.
U.S. Congress: H.R. 2827, the "Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act of 2019"
17 May 2019
Rep. Dingell, Debbie (D-MI) introduced a bill that would designated all PFAS in food contact materials unsafe under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
U.S. Congress: H.R. 2638, the "Minimizing the use of firefighting foam containing PFAS"
9 May 2019
Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie (D-TX) introduced a bill that direct the Administrator of the EPA to issue guidance on limiting the use of firefighting foam containing PFAS.
U.S. Congress: H.R. 2626, the "PFAS Accountability Act of 2019"
9 May 2019
Rep. Upton, Fred (R-MI) introduced a bill that would encourage Federal agencies to work with States in order to improve the removal and remedial actions to address PFAS contamination in drinking, surface, and ground water and land surface and subsurface strata.
U.S. Congress: H.R. 2608, the "PFAS Testing Act of 2019"
9 May 2019
Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick (D-NY) introduced a bill that would require the testing of PFAS under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
U.S. Congress: H.R. 2605, the "Prevent Release Of Toxics Emissions, Contamination, and Transfer Act of 2019"
8 May 2019
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. (D-MI) introduced a bill that would direct the Administrator of the EPA to classify PFAS as a hazardous air pollutant.