Illinois Pollution Control Board Moves Forward with PFAS Groundwater Quality Standards
On March 7, 2024, the Illinois Pollution Control Board took a significant step forward by advancing proposed groundwater quality standards for six per- and polyfluororalkyl substances (PFAS). This move, which includes a proposed standard for PFAS based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recent guidelines, invites public comments and addresses critical concerns raised during previous hearings. With standards set for substances like PFOA and PFOS, the Board emphasizes the importance of establishing these regulations ahead of drinking water standards. Discover the details of this pivotal decision and its implications for environmental protection in Illinois.
New U.S. EPA PFAS Air Testing Method Shows Progress Toward Emissions Standards
In January 2024, the U.S. EPA released Other Test Method 50 (OTM-50), a new, non-regulatory testing method designed to promote consistent measurement of PFAS-related air emissions. The method supports data collection and may inform future air emissions standards.
WOTUS and PM NAAQS and PFAS, Oh My! Environmental Highlights in First Quarter 2023
The proposed NAAQS for PM setting a lower and more stringent standard, if adopted, will mean that several areas in Illinois will be designated as nonattainment.
The proposed NPDWR for PFAS will affect public drinking water industries by requiring more reduction, testing, and notice of PFAS.
The definition of WOTUS reverting back to the pre-2020 WOTUS rule would have provided more assurance in the usage of the term in future instances (though the long-awaited WOTUS decision in Sackett II was issued in the second quarter of 2023).
Illinois Bans Incineration of PFAS
Illinois has made a significant move in environmental protection by banning the incineration of PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” If your business uses these substances, understanding the implications of this law, signed by Governor Pritzker on June 8, 2022, is crucial. With health risks linked to PFAS, compliance is essential. Learn what this law entails and how it affects your operations to ensure you’re compliant and aware of potential impacts on your business’s future.
PFAS on Illinois EPA’s and U.S. EPA’s Radar
Earlier this year, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued health advisories for several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” after their detection in community water supply wells. These advisories, while not enforceable standards, provide guidance on potential health effects and contaminant levels at which no adverse impacts are expected, and will inform the development of future drinking water standards. At the federal level, PFAS regulation is also gaining momentum: during his nomination hearing, U.S. EPA Administrator nominee Michael S. Regan emphasized that addressing PFAS contamination in air and water would be a top priority for the Biden Administration.
USEPA Seeks to Add PFAS to List of Toxic Chemicals
On December 4, 2019, the USEPA proposed adding certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of toxic chemicals. These persistent compounds are found in many consumer and industrial products. The proposal has significant public health implications, and stakeholders can comment as the agency considers lowering reporting thresholds for PFAS risks. Learn more about this initiative and its impact.