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  5. ASTHO Statement on U.S. EPA’s Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

ASTHO Statement on U.S. EPA’s Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

March 22, 2023

ARLINGTON, VA—Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) released their proposed drinking water rule for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) plans to establish “legally enforceable levels” for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX Chemicals), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). Once published in the Federal Register, EPA will take public comment on the rule and hopes to issue a final rule by the end of the year. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) will support state and territorial health agencies in understanding this new rule and work closely with EPA to provide guidance on implementation.

The proposed NPDWR for PFAS sets Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for six PFAS: PFOA and PFOS will have MCLs set at four parts per trillion each, while HFPO-DA, PFBS, PFHxS, and PFNA will be regulated together as a mixture using a “Hazard Index” method. The Hazard Index limit will be set at 1.0. More information on the proposed NPDWR, including fact sheets and FAQ documents, are available online.

“Clean and safe drinking water is critical to optimal health for all,” says Anne Zink, MD, president of ASTHO and chief medical officer for the Alaska Department of Health. “ASTHO supports the EPA’s efforts to address PFAS and reduce exposure to these chemicals. We look forward to working with our local, state, territorial, tribal and federal partners in the next steps in ensuring clean and safe water for all Americans across the U.S. and its territories.”

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ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and freely associated states, and Washington, D.C., as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice.