Environmental Industry Updates
The Latest News on Scientific and Regulatory Updates from Merit Laboratories
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.
The State of Michigan formally adopted a strict set of requirements regulating PFAS in drinking water. The Michigan EGLE announced the adoption of the new maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), which will go into effect on August 3, 2020. The establishment of enforceable MCLs for PFAS compounds will require compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Now they are adopted, the PFAS drinking water MCLs replace the current groundwater cleanup standard of 70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS.
The State of New York Department of Health (DOH) postponed a final decision on setting PFAS maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in drinking water The DOH cancelled a June 4th meeting where it was expected to adopt the recommended MCLs of 10 ppt for PFOA and 10 ppt for PFOS. This is the second time the meeting has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the pending standards, the chemical1,4-dioxane is recommend for MCL of 1 ppb. The governor issued an executive order granting a 90-day extension, so the rulemaking must be completed by August 7.
The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) formally recommended to move forward with establishing draft maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFAS compounds in drinking water. The recommendation was made by unanimous vote by MPART’s board on September 27, 2019 in Lansing. The MPART board is recommending the following health-based MCLs for seven PFAS compounds.
The MDEQ has been directed by the governor to begin the process of creating PFAS drinking water standards. The MDEQ will file a Request for Rulemaking to establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). As part of the governor’s direction, the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) will form a science advisory workgroup to review health-based drinking water standards to support the rulemaking process and make recommendations by July 1.
