The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has, for the first time, proposed designating certain types of per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous materials under the nation’s Superfund waste cleanup program.
If finalized, the rule, expected to be published in the Federal Register in coming weeks, could trigger remedial actions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act for discharges of certain PFAS chemicals above set thresholds and enhance the government’s ability to recover cleanup costs from potentially responsible parties, according to EPA.