White House Eyes EPA Plan Making Two PFAS Hazardous Wastes (1)

A proposed EPA rule to designate two “forever chemicals” as hazardous wastes regulated under the Superfund law has been transmitted to the White House for review.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) would be listed as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, under the proposed rule.

Neither chemical is made in the U.S., but their widespread use for decades in many products—especially in specialized foams used to fight liquid fuel fires—has made them a common contaminant near airports, along with Department of Defense, National Guard, firefighter training facilities, and industries that made and used ...