Environmental Law Matters Blog | Burr & Forman LLP

EPA Continues its Journey Down the PFAS Road(map)

Schuyler K. Espy — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 09:00:01 -0500

On December 5, 2022, the U.S. EPA issued a memorandum entitled, Addressing PFAS Discharges in NPDES Permits and Through the Pretreatment Program and Monitoring Programs. The memorandum “provides EPA’s guidance to states and updates the April 28, 2022 guidance to EPA Regions for addressing PFAS discharges when they are authorized to administer the NPDES permitting program and/or pretreatment program.” The memorandum reaffirms EPA’s focus on its PFAS Strategic Roadmap commitments, recommending a number of steps permit writers can implement “to reduce the discharge ...

Alabama Incorporating PFAS Requirements into Permits for Certain Industrial Categories

Schuyler K. Espy — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 09:00:02 -0400

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or “PFAS,” as they have come to be known, are a category of widely-used and long-lasting chemicals found in many consumer, commercial, and industrial products. The human health and environmental risks of PFAS are not fully understood; however, some scientific studies suggest that exposure to high levels of certain PFAS may lead to adverse health effects. While many states, including Alabama, do not have numeric water quality criteria for PFAS, state environmental agencies are taking steps to address PFAS in the environment – ...

EPA Announces Effort to Streamline TSCA Review of Chemicals Used in Electric Vehicle, Semi-conductor, and Clean Energy Sectors

Schuyler K. Espy — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 09:00:03 -0400

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it will provide more efficient review of certain materials used in Electric Vehicle, Semi-conductor, and Clean Energy Sectors. EPA implements the New Chemicals Program pursuant to its authority under Section 5 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Under this Program, EPA assesses “new” chemical substances (i.e., those that are not on the TSCA inventory), and identifies conditions to be placed on their use before they are entered into commerce. Anyone who intends to manufacture or import a new chemical ...