The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of draft national Ambient Water Quality Criteria (AWQC) under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to protect human health from three per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)—for a 60-day public comment period. The EPA developed these proposed national human health criteria (HHC) for PFAS to reflect the latest scientific information, consistent with the EPA’s current longstanding guidance, methods, and practices. When finalized, the proposed national HHC for PFAS will provide information that States and Tribes can consider when implementing water quality standards.
The EPA encourages the public to register and submit comments on this draft criteria. The comment period closes February 24, 2025.
You may submit comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2024-0454, by any of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/ (preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
- Email: [email protected]. Include Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2024-0454 in the subject line of the message.
- Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Water Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
- Hand Delivery or Courier: EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Docket Center’s hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays).
All submissions received must include the Docket ID Number for this document. Comments received may be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information, see the “Public Participation” heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
For further information contact: Brandi Echols, Office of Water, Health and Ecological Criteria Division (4304T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566-2717; email address: [email protected].
The EPA has established Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2024-0454 for three draft human health criteria documents for PFAS: “Draft Ambient Water Quality Criteria Human Health: Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Related Salts;” “Draft Ambient Water Quality Criteria Human Health: Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) and Related Salts;” and “Draft Ambient Water Quality Criteria Human Health: Perfluorobutanesulfonic Acid (PFBS) and Related Salts.” The public docket materials are available electronically via https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Docket Center’s hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). For further information about EPA Docket Center services and current status information, see: https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
The three draft human health criteria documents can be accessed on the EPA website via the following link: https://www.epa.gov/wqc/human-health-water-quality-criteria-pfas
When preparing to submit comments to the EPA on this action, please review the specific chemical-specific draft criteria documents that the EPA is publishing in the public docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2024-0454. Provide the EPA with comments related to the scientific viewpoints regarding the draft proposed national water quality criteria to protect human health. Include any suggested references to data and other scientific information for the EPA to consider. To ensure that the EPA can appropriately respond to comments, commenters should cite the section(s) or chemical(s) in the draft criteria documents that each comment addresses. Commenters should use a separate paragraph for each issue discussed and submit any references cited in their comments. If you submit electronic comments, the EPA encourages you to include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment. Electronic files should avoid any form of encryption and be free of any defects or viruses.
PFAS are a large group of thousands of synthetic chemicals that have been used in the United States and globally since the 1940s. The heat- and water- and stain-resistant properties of PFAS make them useful in a variety of consumer, commercial, and industrial products, and in the production of other products and chemicals. Current scientific research and available evidence have indicated potential adverse human health effects following exposure to certain PFAS, even at very low levels. The persistence and resistance of PFAS to hydrolysis, photolysis, metabolism, and biodegradation raise further concerns regarding human exposure and health effects.
The EPA has developed proposed criteria for three PFAS: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS). Adverse human health effects associated with exposure to PFOA or PFOS include but are not limited to impacts on the liver, growth and development (e.g., such as low birth weight), the immune system (e.g., such as reduced vaccine response), lipid levels (e.g., such as high cholesterol), as well as increased risk of certain cancers. Adverse human health effects associated with exposure to PFBS include but are not limited to impacts on the thyroid, development, and kidneys.
Table 1—Draft Human Health Criteria (HHC) for PFOA, PFOS, and PFBS summarizes the proposed criteria for these three PFAS. Each draft criteria document transparently describes the human health toxicity information and exposure information that the EPA used to derive the HHC. Each draft criteria document also provides an illustrative example to assist States and Tribes in considering water quality standards for PFAS mixtures.
| PFAS | Water + Organism HHC (ng/L) | Organism Only HHC (ng/L) |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0.0009 | 0.00036 |
| PFOS | 0.06 | 0.07 |
| PFBS | 400 | 500 |
The EPA will review the comments received, revise the criteria documents, and prepare final proposed national HHC for PFOA, PFOS, and PFBS that reflect the EPA’s consideration of those comments. The EPA will announce the availability of the final proposed national HHC for these three PFAS in the Federal Register. When finalized, these HHC will provide information that States and Tribes can consider when implementing water quality standards for PFOA, PFOS, and PFBS. The EPA anticipates developing additional HHC for PFAS as scientific information becomes available.
