Polluters must pay to clean up areas contaminated with PFOA, PFOS
Apr 25, 2024
Industries that discharge toxic PFOA and PFOS compounds into the environment will now be held legally and financially responsible for the contamination, according to a final rule issued by the EPA April 19.
The Department of Defense is also subject to the new requirements.
PFOA and PFOS are now classified as hazardous substances under Superfund law, which authorizes the EPA to use its enforcement powers to require polluters pay for and clean up the contamination. The designation also mandates new reporting requirements for facilities that release the compounds into the environment.
These facilities include 3M, DuPont and its spinoff company, Chemours.