Source: https://phillipslytle.com/publications/client-alert/environment-client-update-march-2019/
Timestamp: 2020-07-11 10:58:01
Document Index: 651559299

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1412', '§ 300', '§ 1412', '§ 300', '§ 1412', '§ 300', '§ 1412', '§ 300', '§ 1445', '§ 300']

For questions regarding PFAS and related regulatory changes, please contact any of the attorneys on our Environmental Practice Team.
The name per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances describes the extent to which the carbon atoms are fluorinated. When all the carbon atoms except the functional group head are fluorinated, the compound is considered fully fluorinated (perfluoro-). Anything less than fully fluorinated is considered partially fluorinated (polyfluoro-). In other words, although there are more than 4,000 types of PFAS, all of them are either fully (per) or partially (poly) fluorinated.
The number of carbon-fluorine bonds impacts the stability of PFAS. Generally speaking, the more carbon-fluorine bonds, the stronger and more stable the compound. Compounds with more carbon-fluorine bonds are known as long-chain PFAS, whereas those with fewer are classified as short-chain PFAS. The regulatory focus is mostly on the long-chain PFAS.
In addition to being fully fluorinated, PFOS and PFOA are both long-chain PFAS, each with eight carbon atoms.
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Frequently Asked Questions (Aug. 22, 2017), available at https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/docs/pfas_fact_sheet.pdf.
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, An Overview of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Interim Guidance for Clinicians Responding to Patient Exposure Concerns (May 7, 2018), available at https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/docs/pfas_clinician_fact_sheet_508.pdf.
EPA, Risk Management for Per- and Polyfluoroalkly Substances (PFAS) Under TSCA, https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-management-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfass (last updated July 20, 2018).
The first significant new use rule (SNUR), promulgated in 2002, prevented the manufacture and import of thirteen PFAS specifically included in the agreement with the sole manufacturer of PFOS. 67 Fed. Reg. 11008 (Mar. 11, 2002) (to be codified 40 C.F.R. pt. 721), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2002-03-11/pdf/02-5746.pdf. EPA added another seventy-five chemicals to the first SNUR on December 9, 2002. 67 Fed. Reg. 72854 (Dec. 9, 2002) (to be codified 40 C.F.R. pt. 721), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2002-12-09/pdf/02-31011.pdf. Finally, on October 9, 2007, EPA promulgated a SNUR on 183 PFAS chemicals it believed were no longer manufactured in the United States. 72 Fed. Reg. 57222 (Oct. 9, 2007) (to be codified 40 C.F.R. pt. 721), available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2007-10-09/pdf/E7-19828.pdf.
EPA promulgated a SNUR in December 2013, requiring companies to report all new uses of certain PFOA-related chemicals as part of carpets. 78 Fed. Reg. 62443 (Oct. 22, 2013) (to be codified 40 C.F.R. pts. 9, 721), available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2013-10-22/pdf/2013-24651.pdf. Another SNUR intended to complement the Stewardship Program was proposed in 2015, but never finalized. 80 Fed. Reg. 2885 (Jan. 21, 2015) (to be codified 40 C.F.R. pt. 721), available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-01-21/pdf/2015-00636.pdf.
Public Health Service Act § 1412(b)(3)(C); 42 U.S.C. § 300g-1(b)(3)(C).
Id. § 1412(b)(1)(B)(i); 42 U.S.C. § 300g-1(b)(1)(B)(i).
Id. § 1412(b)(1)(B)(ii); 42 U.S.C. § 300g-1(b)(1)(B)(ii).
Id. § 1412(b)(1)(F); 42 U.S.C. § 300g-1(b)(1)(F).
Id. § 1445(a)(2); 42 U.S.C. § 300j-4(a)(2).
EPA, Provisional Health Advisories for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) (Jan. 8, 2009), available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/pfoa-pfos-provisional.pdf.
77 Fed. Reg. 26072 (May 2, 2012) (to be codified 40 C.F.R. pts. 141-142), available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2012-05-02/pdf/2012-9978.pdf.
81 Fed. Reg. 81099 (Nov. 17, 2016), available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-11-17/pdf/2016-27667.pdf.
81 Fed. Reg. 33250 (May 25, 2016), available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-05/documents/2016-12361.pdf.
Press Release, New York State Department of Health, Drinking Water Quality Council Recommends Nation’s Most Protective Maximum Containment Levels for Three Unregulated Contaminants in Drinking Water (Dec. 18, 2018), available at https://www.health.ny.gov/press/releases/2018/2018-12-18_drinking_water_quality_council_recommendations.htm.
Press Release, Governor Cuomo Announces $200 Million to Address Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water (Oct. 2, 2018), available at https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-200-million-address-emerging-contaminants-drinking-water.