EPA releases interim PFAS guidance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released updated guidance on destroying and disposing of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as part of its PFAS Strategic Roadmap.

The agency’s “Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Materials Containing Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances” offers updated guidance reflecting the latest, best available science to provide information that managers of PFAS waste can use to evaluate the most appropriate methods to destroy, dispose of or store them.

To better protect people and communities from PFAS exposures, the guidance recommends that decision-makers prioritize the use of technologies with the lowest potential for environmental release.

The guidance contains a new technology evaluation framework that enables technology developers to assess emerging innovative destruction and disposal methods. It also underscores the need to generate and publicly release data to validate whether existing and new technologies may be suitable for larger-scale use.

Additionally, the guidance describes new EPA test methods and improved screening tools to identify and prioritize safeguards for communities located near destruction and disposal facilities. The updated guidance can help government officials and private industry make informed decisions on PFAS destruction and disposal technologies and aid in the implementation of forthcoming rules to protect public health from exposure to PFAS.

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“This guidance is another important step in the agency’s efforts to protect communities from PFAS pollution,” says Cliff Villa, deputy assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management. “It is a testament to the Biden-Harris Administration’s unwavering commitment to advance scientific understanding on methods to remediate, dispose of and destroy PFAS contamination.”

The updated interim guidance retains the 2020 guidance’s focus on three existing technologies: underground injection, landfills and thermal treatment under certain conditions. It also incorporates public comments on EPA’s 2020 interim guidance, integrates years government and private sector work developing and accessing technologies, and highlights innovation and emerging technologies that warrant further evaluation.

EPA will accept comments on the interim guidance for 180 days following publication in the Federal Register.