Superfund PFAS Plan Seen as Start to Cleanups in Neglected Areas

The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to deem two “forever chemicals” as hazardous substances would ultimately provide a powerful tool to help disadvantaged communities get contaminated sites cleaned up, but advocates worry it will be years before the new authority brings results.

If finalized, the agency’s plan would apply the Superfund law’s bedrock “polluter pays” principle to EPA and state agency cleanups of the two most studied forms of PFAS chemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Under that principle, parties deemed responsible for hazardous substances—including past owners—can be held liable for cleanup costs.

Environmental justice groups said EPA’s proposal ...