MassDEP to Hold Public Meeting on Petition to Regulate Entire Class of PFAS Chemicals

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will hold a public meeting on Jan. 16, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. ET at MassDEP's Boston office to consider the "Petition for Rulemaking to Establish a Treatment Technique Drinking Water Standard for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances" filed by Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) and the Toxics Action Center pursuant to MGL c. 30A, § 4 and 310 CMR 2.00. The Petition seeks MassDEP regulation of the entire class of approximately 3,000 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through implementation of a "treatment technique" drinking water procedure which would require installation of specified treatment technologies under certain circumstances rather than adoption of a maximum contaminant level (MCL) which typically applies on a chemical-by-chemical basis.

At the meeting, the petitioners will have the opportunity to present an overview of their petition. MassDEP will provide an overview of the Drinking Water program's implementation of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, including some background on PFAS and an update of actions taken by MassDEP to date. MassDEP has published information on how to participate in the meeting, including how to provide oral comments or write submissions. In addition, the meeting will be available via live-streaming for those who cannot attend in person.