Impact of PFAS Regulations on Counties – Conduit Street

PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” are found in many consumer products and can persist in the environment, posing serious health risks. Key points of PFAS regulations include:

1. PFAS regulatory actions: On April 19, 2024, EPA designated two PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances under CERCLA, leading to potential economic burdens on counties due to PFAS contamination in water systems, landfills, and other facilities.
2. PFAS Regulation – Drinking Water: On April 10, 2024, the EPA issued a regulation for six PFAS chemicals under the Safe Drinking Water Act, imposing significant costs on public water systems to comply with the new standards.
3. PFA legislation: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s bill aims to prevent PFAS contamination and clean up existing contaminants. However, there is a lack of legislation exempting local governments from liability under CERCLA.
4. PFAS financing: The bipartisan infrastructure bill allocates $10 billion over five years to address PFAS in drinking water and wastewater, with additional funding for airports to manage PFAS waste.

NACo continues to advocate for federal support and waivers to protect local governments from bearing the financial burden of PFAS regulation and cleanup. More detailed information can be found on the NACo website.

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