Update: EPA will now accept public comments on its Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for Perfluoroctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) until August 15, 2025. Interested parties may submit comments at...more
A recent lawsuit against Synagro Technologies, Inc. raises important questions about the role of biosolids in PFAS contamination and the legal responsibilities of manufacturers. The case, Farmer v. Synagro Tech., Inc., No....more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has extended the public comment period for the Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) (“Draft...more
The regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remains a critical issue in US environmental policy, with significant implications for water quality, biosolids management and state-level regulatory authority. On...more
Despite having over 130 years of collective environmental law experience, Verrill’s environmental group is very cautious in making predictions about the future. But sometimes we identify a trend that seems so obvious that we...more
On January 14, 2025, the EPA released for public comment a risk assessment report evaluating the potential risks associated with land application and land disposal of biosolids containing two types of PFAS, PFOA and PFOS....more
On January 14, 2025, EPA released for public comment its Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS). This draft risk assessment evaluates potential human...more
Stakeholder Meeting Facilitation for Issues Related to PFAS and Biosolids: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Report - The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has issued a December 2024 Report titled: ...more
On November 14, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the release of EPA’s third annual progress report on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap, and the report indicates a growing focus on PFAS-related enforcement and...more
The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (“NEIWPCC”) has announced the development of what is referred to as a Biosolids Technology Hub (“BioHub”). The BioHub is stated to have been created to serve...more
The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (“PEER”) filed in June a Judicial Action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (“Court”) arguing that the United States Environmental Protection...more
The Coosa River Basin Initiative (“Initiative”) and City of Calhoun, Georgia (“Calhoun”) entered into a Consent Decree (“CD”) addressing alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. See Civil Action No. 4:24-cv-00068-WMR. ...more
Lara Beaven of Inside PFAS Policy reports that Maine farmers have joined litigation against the Environmental Protection Agency for not yet regulating the presence of PFAS in sewage sludge. The plaintiffs in that litigation...more
The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (“PEER”) filed a Clean Water Act citizen suit action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against the United States Environmental Protection...more
On May 8, 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published its final rule designating two types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) — specifically, perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and...more
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (“MPCA”) released in early June a report titled: Evaluation of Current Alternatives and Estimated Cost Curves for PFAS Removal and Destruction from Municipal Wastewater, Biosolids,...more
The United States Composting Council (“USCC”) recently issued a document titled: PFAS Positioning and Guidance Statement (“Statement”)...more
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently signaled a path forward on its roadmap to address PFAS contamination, something industry, water suppliers, and wastewater treatment operators, to name a few, have been...more
Inside EPA reports today on the concerns of water suppliers needing to remove PFAS from drinking water. Among other things, PFAS removal results in residuals, or what you and I might call sludge, that won't be going the...more
Bloomberg Environment reports that Maine Governor Janet Mills is about to sign legislation banning the land application of biosolids in Maine unless those biosolids are determined to be free of PFAS. Practically speaking,...more
As the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), Congress, and state regulatory agencies continue to push forward with per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) regulations, the Maine Department of...more