Environmental Justice

LENEXA, KAN. (FEB. 17, 2022) – EPA invites the public to participate in two identical virtual public meetings related to environmental justice and the development of the proposed Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) on March 2, 2022 (1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, eastern time) and April 5, 2022 (5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, eastern time). Registration is required.

The sessions will be an opportunity for EPA to share information and for communities to offer input on environmental justice considerations related to the development of the proposed PFAS NPDWR. We encourage the public to share thoughts on addressing PFAS drinking water contamination issues in their communities.

Meeting Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/environmental-justice-considerations-for-development-of-proposed-pfas-npdwr-tickets-250307174497

When registering, you will also have an opportunity to sign up to provide brief verbal comments during a meeting. Translations and disability access support can be requested during meeting registration as well.

Additionally, EPA is accepting written public comments submitted to the public docket. You can submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No, EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0114 at https://www.regulations.gov. More information is available at: https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas.

Background:

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), EPA sets public health goals and enforceable standards for drinking water quality. EPA is currently developing a proposed NPDWR for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), two types of PFAS. EPA is also evaluating additional PFAS and assessing the available science to consider regulations for groups of PFAS. NPDWRs are legally enforceable maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) or treatment techniques that apply to public water systems. MCLs and treatment techniques protect public health by limiting the levels of contaminants in drinking water.

In October 2021, EPA released the PFAS Strategic Roadmap (https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-strategic-roadmap-epas-commitments-action-2021-2024) laying out an approach to addressing PFAS across the Agency. Establishing an NPDWR for PFOA and PFOS is a key action in the Roadmap.

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7, 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations