EPA Includes PFAS in Stormwater and Wastewater Permits

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

The U.S. Environmental Safety Company (EPA) has launched an interim technique for regulating Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in stormwater and wastewater discharges by way of its nationwide allowing system that guarantees to have far-reaching impacts on regulatory compliance efforts in a lot of industries. The EPA’s interim steerage, launched November 22, supplies suggestions from a workgroup established to develop a stopgap measure for addressing the presence of PFAS in water whereas a extra complete regulatory framework is developed.

The workgroup most notably recommends that Nationwide Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) allow writers “contemplate” and “incorporate” PFAS monitoring necessities in level supply wastewater discharge permits, in addition to phased-in monitoring and pollutant management measures in stormwater and industrial discharge permits. Even additional, it recommends the consideration of management or abatement measures the place “licensed” for direct and oblique PFAS dischargers. Lastly, the workgroup encourages collaboration throughout federal and state ranges to create greatest practices and deepen technical understandings by way of use of an “data sharing platform” and continuation of the workgroup.

The Interim Technique will most straight impression sure federal services, in addition to states for which the EPA is the allowing authority. This record contains Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, the District of Columbia, and most U.S. territories. As present permits are reevaluated by the EPA, and new permits are requested, these new requirements will start to be carried out. Firms might want to consider upfront of those modifications to remain on prime of their PFAS compliance necessities.