Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) in Biosolids
On July 1, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the memorandum Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids (Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-OW-2026-2509).
This memorandum includes draft guidance that, if finalized, would provide recommendations that may be helpful to operators of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and related facilities, landowners and farmers, state and Tribal water agencies, and the public. It provides voluntary recommendations for potential ways to mitigate risks from PFOA and PFOS when managing sewage sludge and biosolids.
The draft guidance is being released for a 60-day public comment period, which ends on September 4, 2026. The EPA also may use public comments filed to help inform any future agency actions.
- Document: Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids (pdf)
- Federal Register Notice: Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk From Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) in Biosolids; Establishment of a Public Docket; Request for Feedback
Upcoming Listening Sessions
Join the EPA on Wednesday, August 12th at 4 PM ET or Tuesday, August 18th at 3 PM ET for a virtual listening session on EPA’s Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids. These listening sessions will allow stakeholders to provide spoken feedback on the draft guidance to the EPA. Listening sessions will be recorded and posted to the docket.