Agency Asks for Public Input on Draft Interim
Recommendations for Addressing Groundwater
Contaminated with PFOA and PFOS
WASHINGTON – (April 25, 2019)Today, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) released draft interim guidance for addressing groundwater
contaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and/or perfluorooctane
sulfonate (PFOS) for public review and comment.
This is a key component of the agency’s PFAS Action Plan.
These draft recommendations will help protect human health in communities
across the country by providing clear and consistent guidance on addressing
PFOA and PFOS in groundwater under federal cleanup programs. This information
has been requested by other federal agencies and the states and could be used
by other federal, state and tribal cleanup programs.
“Today, we are
delivering on one of our most important commitments under the PFAS Action
Plan,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “This interim guidance will
support actions to protect the health of communities impacted by groundwater
that contains PFOA and PFOS above the 70 parts per trillion level and is a
potential source of drinking water. This is a critical tool for our state,
tribal, and local partners to use to address these chemicals.”
EPA developed this guidance based on the agency’s current
scientific understanding of PFAS toxicity, including the agency’s PFOA and PFOS
health advisories. The recommendations may be revised as new information
becomes available.
EPA has opened a docket for a 45-day public comment period.
The draft guidance describes EPA’s interim recommendations for screening levels
and preliminary remediation goals (PRGs) to inform final cleanup levels for
PFOA and/or PFOS contamination of groundwater that is a current or potential
source of drinking water.
To view the draft guidance and to learn how to submit
comments, visit: https://www.epa.gov/pfas.
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