Environmental Industry Updates
The Latest News on Scientific and Regulatory Updates from Merit Laboratories
Merit Laboratories will be presenting at the 2022 National Conference of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG). The AIPG national conference is set for August 6-9, 2022 in Marquette, Michigan, along the shore of Lake Superior. Maya Murshak, CEO and Technical Director of Merit Laboratories, will be delivering a presentation on Understanding PFAS Methods. The conference will be held at Northern Michigan University’s Northern Center.
The State of Michigan’s groundwater clean-up rules now officially include PFAS compounds, based upon the state’s PFAS limits in public water supplies. Limits for seven PFAS compounds were officially added to the groundwater clean-up rules by the Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) on February 15, 2022. The generic clean-up criteria (GCC) for the seven PFAS compounds are as follows
There are many locations in the state of Michigan where PFAS pollution has become widespread and where warnings been put in place such as; ’Do Not Eat’ fish advisories, and ‘No Swim Zones’. For example, residents living near the Wurtsmith Air Force Base, have health advisories in place warning people not to consume fish, deer and other wildlife in several areas, and avoid toxic surface water foam. The federal government, however, has yet to provide a universal, nationwide standard for PFAS.
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.
Michigan has some of the highest levels of PFAS in the United States. Throughout Michigan, many of the state’s streams, rivers, lakes, and drinking water have been contaminated by PFAS chemicals. To help mitigate future PFAS contamination, the State of Michigan has approved two new bills. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law Michigan House Bills 4389 and 4390 on July 8 that regulate the use and reporting of PFAS-containing firefighting foam, including aqueous film forming foams (AFFF).
The Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) is a leading community-based advocate for clean water resources. The FRWC promotes efforts to protect, promote, and improve the area’s ecosystem through partnership, public education, scientific projects, and community involvement. FRWC believes that all people should have access to the river for recreation, swimming, and fishing as well as the economic value it provides to our communitie
