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ARTICLE · 16 JULY 2026

EPA Seeks Comment On Draft Guidance For Reducing Risk From PFOA And PFOS In Biosolids

Bergeson & Campbell
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The EPA has released draft guidance addressing potential risks from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids, marking a significant shift from its previous risk assessment approach. This guidance aims to clarify common exposure risks and provide practical risk reduction strategies for wastewater treatment operators, farmers, and state agencies. The move comes after stakeholders raised concerns about confusion stemming from the Biden administration's earlier draft risk assessment.

United StatesEnvironment
Lynn L. Bergeson Esq.
Lynn L. Bergeson Esq.
Carla Hutton
Carla Hutton
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On July 6, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of a draft memorandum that would, if issued in final, provide guidance to operators of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and related facilities, landowners and farmers, state and Tribal water agencies, and the public on ways to reduce potential risks posed by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in biosolids. 91 Fed. Reg. 41020. As reported in our January 14, 2025, blog item, in January 2025, the Biden EPA released a draft risk assessment (Draft Risk Assessment) aimed at understanding potential risks posed by PFOA and PFOS in sewage sludge. EPA states that after careful review of the comments provided by stakeholders, it has determined “that the Draft Risk Assessment exhibited a number of flaws . . . that have caused confusion among the public and the regulated community. This confusion has resulted in a lack of clarity in how the public could apply the preliminary

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