First Focus on Children submitted the following comment to Dr. Jennifer L. McLain, Director of the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to comment on the proposed rule concerning Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) National Primary Drinking Water Regulation Rulemaking.
Excerpt from the Comment:
EPA’s proposal takes much-needed steps to reduce our children’s exposure to PFAS. This rule creates a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) that would establish Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for six types PFAS in drinking water, as well as Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs). These MCLs are legally enforceable and will apply to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) as individual chemicals and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, or GenX Chemicals), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) as a combined mixture. Additionally, the MCLGs, while not legally enforceable, require that municipalities alert the public if PFAS levels are above the required threshold.