NJDEP has published a web page addressing Contaminants of Emerging Concern (“CECs”). CECs are described by NJDEP as “chemicals that recently have been shown to occur in water resources and identified as being a potential environmental or public health risk.” LSRPs must consider CECs when the remedial objective is an entire site final remediation document and the site has stored, handled or used CECs.
The new web page currently addresses Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), which are associated with a wide variety of industrial and commercial processes. Guidance criteria for PFAS include the following:
- Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) – recommended MCL of 0.014 ppb (October 2017);
- Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA) – proposed amendment to Safe Drinking Water Act to add PFNA as an MCL (August 2017); interim specific ground water quality criterion of 0.010 ppb (November 2015);
- Perfuorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) – USEPA drinking water health advisory for PFOA and PFOS at 0.070 ppb individually or combined (May 2016).
The NJDEP web page includes links to additional resources and is expected to be expanded to further address PFAS as well as other CECs.