EPA

California Wildfires Disaster and Environmental Cleanup

California Wildfires Disaster and Environmental Cleanup

To all of our friends and partners in California impacted by the devastating wildfires, Merit Laboratories is here to support you. When wildfires ravage communities, natural landscape, and places we call home, the impact is major. Lives are interrupted while homes, schools, and businesses are destroyed. Another significant impact of wildfires is environmental contamination. 

The U.S. EPA Expands Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) to Include Nine Additional PFAS Compounds: Implications and What You Need to Know

The U.S. EPA Expands Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) to Include Nine Additional PFAS Compounds: Implications and What You Need to Know

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to address the growing concerns over PFAS by adding nine new compounds to the Toxics Release Inventory. This move aims to improve transparency and provide better data on the presence and release of these persistent chemicals in the environment.

Army and EPA Joining Forces to Combat PFAS Contamination

Army and EPA Joining Forces to Combat PFAS Contamination

The U.S. Army is joining forces with the U.S. EPA to target a new enemy: PFAS contamination in drinking water. The joint EPA-Army program announced in July will be focused on the sample collection and laboratory testing of private drinking water wells near nine army installations for PFAS. The program will be focused on identifying the potential impact of PFAS migration from installations to contaminate drinking water wells of nearby residents.

Enforcement of Two PFAS Chemicals under Superfund Now in Effect

Enforcement of Two PFAS Chemicals under Superfund Now in Effect

The enforcement date is now active for the two PFAS chemicals designated as hazardous substances by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Superfund (CERCLA/SARA). Enforcement went into effect on July 8, 2024, following the EPA’s final rule announcement in April that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic (PFOS) are hazardous substances.

EPA Holds Public Hearing on Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

EPA Holds Public Hearing on Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a public hearing on May 4, 2023  to hear comments on the proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR).  The public hearing was a follow-up of the EPA’s announcement on March 14, 2023 about the PFAS NPDWR proposed rule. 

The U.S. EPA Issues the Next TSCA Test Order Under National PFAS Testing Strategy

The U.S. EPA Issues the Next TSCA Test Order Under National PFAS Testing Strategy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally announced the issuance of the next Toxic Substances Contract Act (TSCA) test order requiring PFAS testing.  The new test order is being made under the National PFAS Testing Strategy. The EPA announced the action on January 4, 2023, which orders companies to conduct and submit testing for the PFAS substance HFPO. HFPO (CAS # 428-59-1), also known as trifluoro(trifluoromethyl)oxirane, is used in plastics manufacturing.  

EPA Announces Plans for PFAS Wastewater Regulations

EPA Announces Plans for PFAS Wastewater Regulations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Plan 15) to protect the nation’s waterways. According to the EPA Plan 15 will follow the science and the Clean Water Act to develop technology-based pollution limits and studies on wastewater discharges from industrial sources. 

PFOA and PFOS Proposed for Designation as CERCLA Hazardous Substances

PFOA and PFOS Proposed for Designation as CERCLA Hazardous Substances

In an expected move, the U.S. EPA is officially proposing a rule to add both perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under Superfund (CERCLA). EPA made the announcement on August 25, 2022, in a pre-publication notice in the Federal Register.

Growing Concerns about New Hampshire PFAS Groundwater Contamination

Growing Concerns about New Hampshire PFAS Groundwater Contamination

Scientists and elected officials have expressed their concerns in a letter to the state Attorney General about Saint Gobain Performance Plastics (SGPP) and PFAS contamination in New Hampshire. The scientists and lawmakers provided a “summary of new information uncovered in connection

Merit Laboratories headed to the SAME Small Business Conference in Nashville

Merit Laboratories headed to the SAME Small Business Conference in Nashville

Merit Laboratories will be attending the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Federal Small Business Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. SAME’s Small Business Conference, scheduled for November 2-4, 2022, will be held at the Music City Center in downtown Nashville.