Overview
- EPA and HHS, which on Monday unveiled two proposed rules, moved to rescind federal limits on four PFAS and to offer case-by-case compliance extensions for PFOA and PFOS, citing procedural flaws in the 2024 rule.
- The rollback targets PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO‑DA known as GenX, and PFBS, four long‑lasting “forever chemicals” tied to cancer and hormone and liver harms.
- Limits for PFOA and PFOS remain in place, though water systems could apply to shift the compliance deadline from 2029 to 2031 on a case‑by‑case basis that EPA has not yet detailed.
- The agencies announced nearly $1 billion in grants to help states and small or disadvantaged communities test for and remove PFAS from drinking water, which could ease costs for systems facing expensive treatment upgrades.
- The proposals now enter a 60‑day public comment period with a July hearing, and environmental groups warn the changes may violate the Safe Drinking Water Act’s anti‑backsliding rule, signaling likely court challenges.