New Hampshire meeting first in nation on PFAS

The Latest on PFAS

In order to stay abreast of the latest news on per- and polyflouralkyl substances (PFAS), a man-made chemical with widespread use that may have negative health impacts, I have made a point to attend local and regional meetings on the topic. (For more on PFAS see NGWA PFAS Guidance .)

The first nationwide EPA hosted summit on PFAS was in late May in DC (which I did not attend) but I did attend the first regional stakeholder meeting held at Exeter High School, Exeter, NH this past Monday and Tuesday. Local stakeholders, state environmental agency officials, environmental professionals, and regional organizations were there to tell their stories, voice concerns and to provide recommendations to tackle this growing issue.

In introductory remarks and throughout the meeting the EPA agree to the following:

• EPA will initiate steps to evaluate the need for a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for PFOA and PFOS. We will convene our federal partners and examine everything we know about PFOA and PFOS in drinking water.
• EPA is beginning the necessary steps to propose designating PFOA and PFOS as “hazardous substances” through one of the available statutory mechanisms, including potentially CERCLA Section 102.
• EPA is currently developing groundwater cleanup recommendations for PFOA and PFOS at contaminated sites and will complete this task by fall of this year.
• EPA is taking action in close collaboration with our federal and state partners to develop toxicity values for GenX and PFbS by this summer.

Stakeholders and state environmental leaders at the meeting repeatedly called for timely action and pushed EPA to respond more quickly and more holistically to regulating these substances and moving to understand the fate and human/environmental health effects that these compounds may cause. We are all on a steep learning curve on this subject. New Hampshire and other New England states are moving forward on establishing PFAS cleanup levels and guidance. I will provide additional information as it becomes available.