January 15, 2021

Interim PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance

When the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) was signed into law, one section directed EPA to publish interim guidance on the destruction and disposal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The agency released that guidance with a notice of availability for public comment on December 22, 2020. [85 FR 83554] Comments may be submitted until February 22, 2021 under Docket No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2020-0527.

The interim guidance, dated December 18, 2020 and available from the above-noted docket, is based on the current science of PFAS destruction and disposal but also discusses uncertainties and existing data gaps. As new information comes to light, EPA intends to update this guidance every three years. The guidance is organized into four major sections:

Description of PFAS and PFAS-containing materials identified in the NDAA,
Technologies for the destruction and disposal of PFAS and PFAS-containing materials,
Considerations for potentially vulnerable populations living near likely destruction and disposal sites, and
Planned research and development on destruction and disposal technologies for PFAS and PFAS-containing materials.

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This document addresses issues of a general nature related to the federal RCRA regulations. Persons evaluating specific circumstances dealing with the RCRA regulations should review state and local laws and regulations, which may be more stringent than federal requirements. In addition, the assistance of a qualified professional should be enlisted to address any site-specific circumstances.