EPA proposes eliminating PFAS reporting exemption

The Environmental Protection Agency Monday (Dec. 5, 2022) proposed a rule to end an exemption used to avoid disclosure of certain PFAS releases. The exemption allows facilities to avoid reporting information on PFAS when those chemicals are used in small or minor concentrations. Because PFAS are used at low concentrations in many products, the rule would ensure that covered industry sectors and federal facilities that make or use PFAS will no longer be able to rely on the exemption to avoid disclosing their PFAS releases and other waste management quantities for these chemicals. PFAS chemicals have been used to make various commercial products, including non-stick cookware, stain-resistant carpets and furniture, water-resistant clothing, coated oil-resistant paper and cardboard food packaging, and some personal care products. Agriculture and PFAS chemicals can intersect through air, water, and soil, according to the Maine Department of Agriculture. One way that PFAS may enter soil is through the application of residuals such as biosolids, industrial sludges and ashes.