The U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina approved two major settlements in the multidistrict litigation (“MDL”) that consolidated thousands of cases related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) contamination in public water systems allegedly resulting from use
PFAS and Emerging Contaminants
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Designation of PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances to Become Effective on July 8, 2024
As previously reported, on April 19, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) released the pre-publication notice of its final rule designating perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (“PFOS”) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and…
EPA Designates PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances
On April 19, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) released the pre-publication notice of its final rule designating perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (“PFOS”) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). The…
State and Federal PFAS Litigation – 2019 to Q1 2024
PFAS-related litigation continues to climb and to diversify as to claims and parties. See the attached graphics, updated through the first quarter of 2024. We will continue to update these graphics on a quarterly basis.
EPA Issues Final MCLs for PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, GenX, PFHxS, and PFBS
On April 8, 2024, the EPA Administrator signed the final rule establishing drinking water standards, also known as MCLs, for six PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, GenX (HFPO-DA), PFHxS, and PFBS). The final MCLs for PFOA and PFOS are the same…
Fifth Circuit Vacates EPA’s Orders Regulating PFAS under Significant New Use Rule
The Fifth Circuit issued a decision vacating two EPA orders directing Inhance Technologies (Inhance) to close its barrier technology facilities. As its basis for issuing the orders, EPA had identified Inhance’s fluorination process as a “significant new use” that presented…
PADEP Proposes Key PFAS Amendments to Act 2 Regulations
On March 12, 2024, the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) approved the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (PADEP) proposal to amend the Land Recycling and Remediation Standards Act regulations under Chapter 250 of the Pennsylvania Code. Included in the…
USEPA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Information Request to POTWs
USEPA announced today the intention, under Clean Water Act authority, to issue an information request to the largest publicly owned sewage treatment works (POTWs). USEPA seeks public comment on the proposal by May 28, 2024. The first step would be…
New Jersey Finalizes Law Restricting PFAS in Firefighting Foam and Creating Take-Back Program
Last month, Governor Murphy signed a bill that affects the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in firefighting foam. The law, approved as P.L.2023, c.243 (Bill A4125 or S2712), accomplishes a few things: it (1) largely prohibits PFAS-containing firefighting…
Maine and Minnesota Accepting Proposals Through March 1, 2024 for “Currently Unavoidable Use” Exemptions from Upcoming State Ban on PFAS-Containing Products
As we’ve posted here before, by statutory enactment, Maine intends to ban the sale, marketing, and distribution of products or product components containing intentionally added PFAS, effective January 1, 2030. 38 M.R.S. § 1614. This follows Maine’s…