Federal Register #EPAHQ-OW-2025-1742

EPA Proposed Extension of PFOA and PFOS Drinking Water Compliance Deadline

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a federal exemption to extend the compliance deadline for Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in public water systems: - Government Buyer: - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Standards and Risk Management Division - OEMs and Vendors: - EPA is the only entity mentioned; no commercial OEMs or vendors are specified - Products/Services Requested: - Processing and administration of exemption requests for public water systems - Technical assistance and support for compliance with PFOA and PFOS MCLs - Implementation of interim control measures for systems exceeding 12 ng/L, including: - Installation and maintenance of point-of-use (POU) or point-of-entry (POE) devices - Provision of certified water filtration pitchers - Alternative water supplies - Source water controls - Public education and community outreach - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Applies only to PFOA and PFOS, not other PFAS contaminants - Exemption available to eligible public water systems in states without primacy that demonstrate compelling economic, technical, or logistical challenges - Interim control measures are mandatory for systems with PFOA or PFOS at or above 12 ng/L - Public notification and community outreach are required during the exemption period - No specific products, part numbers, or commercial vendors are requested; the opportunity is regulatory and technical in nature

Description

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes a federal exemption to extend the compliance deadlines for the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) from April 26, 2029, to April 26, 2031, for systems that submit a request. This extension aims to provide additional time for public water systems to comply due to compelling factors such as economic, technical, and logistical challenges. The EPA is seeking public comment on the proposal and will hold a public hearing on July 7, 2026. The rule applies specifically to PFOA and PFOS and includes provisions for interim control measures during the exemption period to mitigate health risks.

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