EPA Proposes to Add PFAS Chemicals To Existing Significant New Use Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed Aug. 8 to add perfluorinated chemicals to an existing significant new use rule and require companies to notify the agency before using certain of these chemicals as parts of carpets or to treat carpets.

The proposed significant new use rule (SNUR) under the Toxic Substances Control Act would address two types of perfluorinated chemicals:

• perfluoralkyl sulfonate (PFAS) compounds, a family known largely for perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS), a chemical that was withdrawn voluntarily from the U.S. market but once was used in 3M’s Scotchgard™ line of carpet-cleaning products, and
• perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which the sole U.S. ...