Congressional Research Service Updates PFAS and Drinking Water Report

On August 20, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) published its updated report entitled, “PFAS and Drinking Water: Selected EPA and Congressional Actions.” The report provides general information about PFAS, along with an overview of EPA’s ongoing and proposed actions to address PFAS using SDWA authorities, with particular focus on the statutory process for evaluating PFAS for potential regulation. It discusses EPA’s process for developing drinking water regulations for emerging contaminants; and authority to develop health advisories and use SDWA Section 1431 that grants EPA “emergency powers” to issue enforcement orders for a contaminant that poses an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health. The report also reviews PFAS-related legislation introduced in the 116th Congress with emphasis on bills that would amend SDWA. Read the CRS report here.