Volunteers from NGWA’s PFAS Task Group convened to respond to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s draft comments on groundwater clean-up guidelines for sites contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The draft guidelines are one of the key sections of the EPA’s PFAS Action Plan, which was released in February. The groundwater clean-up guidelines call for interim screening levels of 40 parts per trillion (ppt) for sites where detections warrant additional investigation and a preliminary remediation goal (PRG) of 70 ppt. These guidelines only apply for sites where contamination from two types of contamination, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), were found. The 70 ppt level is in line with the EPA’s current health advisory level.
NGWA’s comments provided several recommendations to the EPA, including integration of clean-up guidelines across the regulatory framework, investing in technology for the treatment and disposal of PFAS-impacted soil and water, and expansion of the guidelines to other PFAS substances.
To read a copy of NGWA’s comments, click here.