On March 19, EPA announced plans to host a National Leadership Summit to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), a diverse group of man-made chemicals that include Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctyl Sulfonate (PFOS). Invitations were sent to 56 governors inviting them to Washington, D.C. in May. The participants will work together to:
- Share information on ongoing efforts to characterize risks from PFAS and develop monitoring and treatment/cleanup techniques;
- Identify specific near-term actions, beyond those already underway, that are needed to address challenges currently facing states and local communities; and
- Develop risk communication strategies to address public concerns with PFAS.
The press release reveals that EPA plans to travel to states and communities impacted by PFAS following the summit and will use the information gleamed from the summit and the community engagements to develop a PFAS Management Plan that will be released later this year. In December of last year, EPA reported a cross-agency initiative to address PFAS. According to the agency’s press release, EPA’s water and research offices will lead the effort, but the work will bring together experts from across the agency.
In 2016, EPA established a lifetime health advisory level (HAL) for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water at 70 parts per trillion (ppt). When both chemicals are found within a system, the combined lifetime HAL is 70 ppt. EPA has not established a national primary drinking water regulation for either PFOA or PFOS.