PFAS in Focus: Forever-Engineering With Trent Stober, HDR - Reflections on Water Podcast
PFAS in Focus: Wastewater Utility Perspectives From Jay Hoskins, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District - Reflections on Water Podcast
DynCorp's 'Strategic' Defense In Drug Crop Spraying Suit
“Contaminants Compass” is a monthly newsletter that provides updates, legal observations and actionable tips to navigate the evolving legal challenges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This edition discusses how...more
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent rulemakings for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have far-reaching implications for a broad range of industries, regulated entities, and regulatory bodies. First,...more
Much has been written, including in our Burns & Levinson Legal Terrain Blog, about the impact of PFAS and similar “forever chemicals” on suits by state attorneys general and private actions to obtain funds or obtain insurance...more
On April 19, 2024, just nine days after finalizing the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard for six individual per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the Agency designated PFOA and PFOS, two...more
Last Friday, EPA formally designated perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) – including their salts and structural isomers! – as hazardous substances under CERCLA. I cannot really quarrel with...more
On April 19, 2024, EPA announced its highly anticipated final rule designating two polyfluoroalkyl substances ("PFAS")—perfluorooctanoic acid ("PFOA") and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid ("PFOS")—as "hazardous substances" under...more
On April 19, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final rule designating perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), two of the most common and well-known per- and...more
On Friday, April 19, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a pre-publication version of its Final Rule (the Rule) designating two widely used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) –...more
On November 29, Ohio Attorney General (AG) Dave Yost and Governor Mark DeWine announced a proposed $110 million settlement with Du Pont De Nemours and Co. and The Chemours Company over alleged chemical contamination from...more
In the absence of federal cleanup standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in groundwater, several states have started the process of regulating PFAS in groundwater themselves. As a result, states have...more
The Attorney General for the District of Columbia (“AG”) and Potomac Electric Power Company (“Pepco”) entered into a First Amendment to Consent Decree (“Amended Decree”) addressing alleged releases of hazardous substances....more
We have probably already read (and written) too much about the challenges of dealing with “forever chemicals” in drinking water and wastewater treatment. However, recent developments hold some hope for addressing forever...more
On March 14, 2023, EPA proposed to regulate certain PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA proposed Maximum Contaminant Level Goals for PFOA and PFOS of zero. It proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFOA and PFOS of...more
A few hours after dinner time on Feb. 3, and approximately 20 miles following a dramatic slow-down from a speed of 50 miles per hour to about half that, a Norfolk Southern freight train consisting of 38 cars – 11 of which...more
Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) that contain PFAS was, and in some cases still is, an effective tool for fighting fires used by the military and local firefighters to contain and control fuel-fed fires....more
In mid-December 2022, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) released Draft Guidance for Investigating and Remediating PFAS Contamination in Washington State. The Draft Guidance would apply to independent...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published a report titled: Semiannual Report of UST Performance Measures - End of Fiscal Yar 2022 (October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022) (“Report”)...more
There is no federal drinking water standard for 1,4-dioxane, but as illustrated by a recent press release for the Industrial Excess Landfill Superfund Site in Ohio, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state...more
1,4-Dioxane is an emerging contaminant. Like “traditional” volatile organic compounds, it has the potential to volatilize and enter indoor air. This article explores why businesses should consider conducting a VI assessment...more
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (“Court”) addressed in a July 18th decision a challenge to a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“Superfund”) National...more
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released four health advisories for the group of contaminants regularly referred to as “forever chemicals”—perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Specifically,...more
A few considerations practitioners should keep in mind when dealing with contamination involving per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. The PFAS Action Act of 2021 passed in the House and was received in...more
On the 60th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carlson’s groundbreaking book “Silent Spring”, the world continues to struggle to manage the human health and environmental risks associated with newly discovered emerging...more
33 states have either enacted or proposed regulations regarding per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) present in Class B Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (“AFFF”) used for firefighting, or present in firefighters’ clothing...more
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is kicking off 2022 — a year expected to be particularly active for the regulation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — by moving forward with one of the agency’s keystone...more