On 28 April 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a series of regulatory and enforcement actions to combat contamination from Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the measures in Washington, D.C., positioning them as essential steps to protect public health and enforce accountability among polluters. These developments carry significant implications for manufacturers, water utilities, and stakeholders across the chemicals value chain, as the EPA strengthens its oversight under federal statutes including TSCA, the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act.
PFAS Regulation Intensifies Under EPA’s Strategic Plan
Under the EPA's newly announced framework, PFAS will be subject to strengthened effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs), particularly targeting manufacturers and metal finishers. The Agency will also enforce stricter PFAS disclosure under the Toxic Release Inventory and expand testing under TSCA Section 4 to address gaps in hazard and exposure data.
PFAS—often referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their environmental persistence—are widely used in industrial processes, firefighting foams, and consumer products. Their resistance to degradation raises significant concerns for drinking water safety and long-term public health.
In response, the EPA will issue annual updates to its PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance, prioritise risk-based reviews of new and existing PFAS chemicals, and work with Congress to establish a clearer liability model where polluters, not passive receivers such as local water utilities, bear cleanup costs.
What It Means for Industry and Local Governments
For manufacturers and chemical processors, the EPA’s action plan will demand greater data transparency and possible operational modifications to meet discharge limits. Authorities will also begin evaluating how to apply RCRA to PFAS releases from production and user sites. These moves signal a shift toward broader enforcement and a more expansive regulatory net.
Utilities, particularly those facing legacy PFAS issues, may benefit from the EPA’s push to define and protect passive receivers. However, they will still need to prepare for increased scrutiny and potentially stricter reporting requirements.
State and tribal governments will be supported through enhanced enforcement partnerships and tools to assess PFAS risks, especially in water supplies. Meanwhile, a completed biosolids risk assessment—pending public comment analysis—could impose additional compliance obligations.
