SGS is following these stories and will continue to keep you up-to-date:
STATE-BY-STATE
Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) – State Legislation 2017-2018
What is PFAS and how are state governments dealing with the threat and actuality of PFAS contamination.
NEW JERSEY
State of New Jersey Establishes New Maximums for PFAS
The Department of Environmental Protection is adopting amendments to the New Jersey Safe Drinking Water Act to establish a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) of 0.013 micrograms per liter (µg/l) and an MCL for 1,2,3-trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP) of 0.030 µg/l. The rule requires public community and public nontransient noncommunity water systems to monitor for these contaminants beginning in first quarter of 2019.
MICHIGAN
PFAS Detected in Drinking Water for 1.5 Million Michigan Residents
Testing data disclosed by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality shows that more than 1.5 million people have been drinking municipal water with some level of PFAS contamination. Contaminated water is coming from major systems that draw water from the Great Lakes like Saginaw, Grand Rapids and Wyoming, as well as groundwater systems.
State tests have also confirmed that some stretches of the Kalamazoo River are highly contaminated with PFAS. See here.
Ann Arbor will propose new plan to reduce PFAS in drinking water
Ann Arbor city officials are seeking $850,000 to upgrade filtration at its water treatment plant as the city works to reduce PFAS contamination in its treated drinking water. That request comes as state officials try to identify a source of the chemicals detected in the Huron River, which contributes 85 percent of the city’s drinking water.
New York
NY Senator Calls On EPA For New York PFAS Meeting
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to hold a community engagement meeting in New York to hear directly from those affected by PFAS chemicals – the classification of pollutants found in water supplies in communities like Hoosick Falls and Newburgh.
Washington, DC
Congress urged to ‘act swiftly’ on national PFAS laws
On September 6, the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing focused on PFAS contamination. Multiple presenters said that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needs to develop regulations for PFAS chemicals as a class, not just for individual compounds.
Bill would give $45M for nationwide PFAS testing
In August, bipartisan legislation in Congress was proposed that would accelerate nationwide testing for PFAS contamination sources and quicken cleanup at military bases. The PFAS Detection Act authorizes $45 million for PFAS testing near drinking water sources around the country and develop advanced methods for finding “as many compounds as possible” at lower concentrations.
The PFAS Accountability Act would help expedite cleanup at contaminated federal facilities and enable states to recover costs associated with addressing the polluted sites.
DoD: At least 126 bases report water contaminants linked to cancer, birth defects
A Pentagon Report concluded that the water at or around at least 126 military installations contains potentially harmful levels of perfluorinated compounds, which have been linked to cancers and developmental delays for fetuses and infants.
To find out how we can best help you with your PFAS analysis, call (800) 329-0204 or email ehs.clientcare@sgs.com.
