Key EPA Actions to Address PFAS
EPA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids to Make America Healthy Again
- In July 2026, EPA released draft guidance to help wastewater utilities, landowners, and the public reduce risk from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids. This effort is part of EPA’s comprehensive, lifecycle-based strategy to address PFAS and Make America Healthy Again.
EPA Announces New Action to Make America Healthy Again by Collecting Data to Advance Science on Potential Drinking Water Contaminants
- In June 2026, EPA took a key step to advance Safe Drinking Water Act implementation by proposing to monitor contaminants that are not currently regulated but may be present in drinking water. Specifically, the agency proposed monitoring requirements for 30 unregulated contaminants in the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6).
EPA Obtains Over $450 Million In Penalties and Relief in Agreement with Chemours to Settle Claims Over PFAS Pollution in Three States
- In June 2026, EPA, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) announced the first comprehensive federal settlement with a major PFAS manufacturer, Chemours. EPA alleges that Chemours released PFAS into the Cape Fear River (North Carolina), the Delaware River (New Jersey), and the Ohio River (West Virginia) — in some cases without required permits, and in other cases in violation of those permits.
EPA Advances Comprehensive PFAS Strategy with Legally Defensible, Practical, Scientifically Sound Drinking Water Protections
- In May 2026, EPA announced an holistic approach to tackle PFAS across its full lifecycle. As part of that strategy, EPA is highlighting innovative PFAS treatment and destruction technologies, announcing nearly $1 billion in new funding to states to address PFAS in drinking water, and issuing two proposed rules for public comment that uphold the National Primary Drinking Water Standards for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).
Withdrawal of Proposed Resource Conservation and Recovery Act PFAS-Related Rule
- In May 2026, EPA withdrew a proposal to clarify authority to address releases of hazardous waste at treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. EPA concluded that the proposed revisions would have complicated, rather than contributed to, efficient implementation of cleanup at hazardous waste facilities under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. EPA also concluded that the existing regulations provide the tools necessary to develop protective permit conditions without the need to modify the hazardous waste definition.
EPA Takes Bold Action to Ensure Drinking Water is Safe from Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals, and Potential Hidden Contaminants
- In April 2026, EPA announced a landmark set of actions to safeguard the nation's drinking water from microplastics, pharmaceuticals, forever chemicals, and dozens of other contaminants —delivering on the Trump administration’s promise to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA). At the heart of today's announcement is EPA's draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6), which the agency is releasing for public comment, and is a critical tool under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that drives research, funding, and future decisions on regulating emerging threats in public water systems.
Updated PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance to Protect American Communities
- In April 2026, EPA released updated, science-backed guidance for the destruction and disposal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The updated interim guidance reflects the most recent data available and is designed to give states, utilities, waste handlers, and local communities the information they need to manage these chemicals safely and protect human health.
EPA Launches PFAS OUT Initiative to Help Proactively Address PFAS in Drinking Water
- In April 2026, EPA launched a new initiative called PFAS OUTreach—or PFAS OUT. This new effort proactively works with communities and water systems to reduce exposure to PFOA and PFOS in drinking water, years ahead of compliance with federal regulatory requirements.
Businesses Required to Track and Disclose Releases of PFHxS
- In February 2026, EPA finalized a rule adding sodium perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS-Na) to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The TRI is a tool that tracks and shares information about chemical releases and pollution prevention activities by factories and other facilities. Under this rule, businesses in covered industries must begin tracking and reporting any use or release of PFHxS-Na, a well-studied PFAS chemical. The first reporting period began January 1, 2026 and the first reports will be due to EPA by July 1, 2027. Because PFHxS-Na is classified as a chemical of special concern it is subject to a lower reporting threshold, in this case 100 lbs.
EPA Highlights Major Year One PFAS Actions
- In February 2026, EPA released a top list of actions the agency has taken in the first year of the Trump Administration to combat risks from PFAS contamination. Since January 2025, some of the many positive Trump EPA highlights of the effort to combat PFAS include:
- Launched the PFAS OUTreach Initiative (PFAS OUT) to connect with every public water system that needs system upgrades to address PFAS, including those finding PFOA and PFOS in their water. PFAS OUT will engage utilities, technical assistance providers and local, state, Tribal, and territorial leaders to develop effective and practical solutions where needed most.
- Released $945 million to reduce exposure to PFAS in drinking water.
- Developed a method to detect 40 PFAS compounds in wastewater, surface water, groundwater, soil, sludge, sediment, landfill liquid, and fish tissue.
- Proposed commonsense changes to PFAS reporting regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to improve implementation and reduce duplicative reporting requirements while maintaining the ability to obtain important use and safety information.
- Advanced the science-based levels for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR), while revising compliance dates to ensure successful implementation.
- Affirmed the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) hazardous substance listing for PFOA and PFOS.
- Initiated more frequent updates to the PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance—changing from every three years to annually—as EPA continues to assess the effectiveness of available treatment technologies.
- Finalized a consent order requiring removal of PFAS foam and system cleaning at Brunswick Executive Airport in Maine.
- Installed 108 Point of Entry Treatment water systems to address PFAS contamination and sampled over 350 wells and provided bottled water to almost 200 residents near the Route 31 Sludge Superfund removal site in New Jersey.
- Completed four PFAS treatment systems to safeguard drinking water in southern California's Irvine Ranch and Orange County Water Districts to protect over 9,500 households from PFAS.
- Used emergency authorities under the Superfund law to start removal of asbestos-contaminated structures from the ATP site in Paterson, New Jersey, continuing to address PFAS contamination at the Route 31 site in Washington Township, New Jersey.
- Completed joint EPA-U.S. Army sampling of private drinking water wells for PFAS near McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma.
- Completed a second round of PFAS sampling at Region 7 Tribal Drinking Water Systems.
- Provided interim PFAS lab certification for Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC).
- Signed an agreement to connect Joint Base Lewis-McChord residences to municipal water system if PFAS exceeds standards.
- Coordinated PFAS drinking water well sampling around Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
- Utilized EPA lab Method 533 to test tribal drinking water systems for PFAS and performed 62 analyses.
Proposed Changes to the Scope of the TSCA 8(a)(7) PFAS Reporting Regulations
- In November 2025, EPA released a proposal to improve the scope of its PFAS reporting regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to make them more practical and implementable and reduce unnecessary, or potentially duplicative, reporting requirements for businesses while maintaining the ability to obtain important use and safety information on PFAS.
Administrator Zeldin Announces Major EPA Actions to Combat PFAS Contamination
- In April 2025, EPA Administrator Zeldin announced a long list of EPA actions to combat PFAS contamination that included in part the designation of an agency lead for PFAS, the creation of effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for certain PFAS to stop these forever chemicals from entering drinking water systems, and initiatives to engage with Congress and industry to establish a clear liability framework that ensures the polluter pays and passive receivers are protected.