EPA's PFAS Effluent Limits Rulemaking Faces Delay
The U.S. EPA’s efforts to curb industrial discharges of PFAS have hit a pause, marking a pivotal moment in the government’s approach to regulating these so-called forever chemicals.
Under the Clean Water Act, the EPA has been seeking to update effluent limitation guidelines (ELGs) that would require PFAS manufacturers to limit the amount of these compounds in their wastewater. While the updated guidelines were expected to advance in January, it now appears the proposal has been effectively paused following its withdrawal from the federal regulatory review process, rather than simply delayed.
The updates are specifically meant for PFAS manufacturers under the Organic Chemicals, Plastics, and Synthetic Fibers (OCPSF) category. The update was originally signaled during the Biden administration and expected to set discharge limits and pretreatment standards for wastewater containing PFAS. However, it has not yet been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review, suggesting a possible delay or shift in regulatory strategy.
The delays come as the EPA simultaneously adjusts its PFAS drinking water standards, maintaining limits while extending compliance deadlines for water systems and reconsidering standards for other PFAS compounds.
With the proposed ELG rule delayed and legal challenges to other PFAS safeguards underway, the coming year will be critical in determining how federal law curbs the flow of “forever chemicals” into America’s water.