EPA Proposes Primary Drinking Water Standards for PFAs

Today, March 14, 2023, the EPA announced proposed enforceable primary drinking water standards (maximum contaminant levels or MCLs) and unenforceable maximum contaminant level goals (MCLG) for six PFAS, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX Chemicals), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS).  Once finalized, public water supplies will have to monitor for these PFAS, make required public disclosures, and treat drinking water that exceeds the MCL. The proposed limits are:

The EPA hopes to issue final regulations by the end of 2023. In the meanwhile, a 60-day public comment period will begin upon publication of the proposed regulations in the federal register. The EPA is also holding a series of webinars to provide an overview of the proposed limits and regulations.

If you have questions regarding this announcement, please contact the authors of this Client Alert.

Susan L. Johnson
248.258.1307
johnsons@butzel.com

Beth S. Gotthelf
248.258.1303
gotthelf@butzel.com