The EPA is seeking public comment on a draft set of recommendations for cleaning up groundwater contaminated with PFOA and PFOS. When finalized, the recommendations will provide a starting point for making site-specific cleanup decisions. The guidance is based on the EPA’s current scientific understanding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) toxicity and is intended to provide clear and consistent guidance for federal cleanup programs, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, commonly referred to as “Superfund”). This information may also be useful for state and tribal cleanup programs, and in carrying out other federal regulatory authorities (e.g., federal facility cleanup programs, approved state Resource Conservation and Recovery Act corrective action programs).
- Screening levels, which are used to determine if levels of contamination may warrant further investigation;
- Preliminary remediation goals (PRGs) to inform site-specific cleanup levels for PFOA and PFOS contamination of groundwater that is a current or potential source of drinking water. PRGs are initial targets for cleanup, which may be adjusted on a site-specific basis as more information becomes available.
Comments are welcome on any part of the guidance, including the use of EPA’s Lifetime Drinking Water Health Advisory level of 70 ng/L or parts per trillion as the recommended PRG for groundwater, or whether higher or lower values would be supported.
SUBMITTING COMMENTS:
This document will be open for public comment for 45-days from April 25 – June 10, 2019.
