The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday announced it plans to extend compliance deadlines for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), establish a federal exemption framework, and conduct outreach initiatives, especially in rural and small communities.
“The work to protect Americans from PFAS in drinking water started under the first Trump Administration and will continue under my leadership,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said. “We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water. At the same time, we will work to provide common-sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance. This will support water systems across the country, including small systems in rural communities, as they work to address these contaminants. EPA will also continue to use its regulatory and enforcement tools to hold polluters accountable.”
Background
On April 10, 2024, EPA announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, including standards for PFOA and PFOS. At that time, EPA established legally enforceable levels for these PFAS in drinking water and gave public water systems until 2029 to comply with the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs).
To allow drinking water systems more time to develop plans for addressing PFOA and PFOS where they are found and implement solutions, EPA plans to develop a rulemaking to provide additional time for compliance, including a proposal to extend the compliance date to 2031. EPA plans to issue a proposed rule this fall and finalize this rule in the spring of 2026.
The EPA is encouraging states to seek primacy for implementing the PFAS drinking water regulation and to request additional time from the EPA to comply.
The EPA also noted that it will support the Department of Justice in defending ongoing legal challenges to the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation with respect to PFOA and PFOS.
