On May 27, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) on “Restoring Gold Standard Science.” 90 Fed. Reg. 22601. The EO states that the Trump Administration “is committed to restoring a gold standard for science to ensure that federally funded research is transparent, rigorous, and impactful, and that Federal decisions are informed by the most credible, reliable, and impartial scientific evidence available.” The EO restores the scientific integrity policies of the first Trump...
On May 22, 2025, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) held a public hearing on its “Proposed Permanent Rules Relating to PFAS in Products; Reporting and Fees” (proposed rule). Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Jim Mortenson facilitated the hearing, which had more than 100 participants in attendance. MPCA has made available online the PowerPoint document used for the hearing presentation, the hearing exhibits, and a transcript of the hearing. Procedural Background The pre-hearing public...
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are attracting global legal, regulatory, commercial, and litigation attention as no other “emerging contaminant” has. Companies producing, processing, distributing, and/or using these substances must be aware of global legal and scientific developments and take steps now to minimize legal, regulatory, and commercial risk. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and its global consulting affiliate The Acta Group (Acta®) have prepared...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on May 12, 2025, an interim final rule that would extend the dates of the reporting period for data submitted on the manufacture of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Under the interim final rule, the data submission period would begin April 13, 2026, and end October 13, 2026. Small manufacturers reporting exclusively as article importers would have until April 13, 2027, to...
On April 28, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlined upcoming Agency action to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). According to EPA’s announcement, “[i]n line with Administrator Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback initiative, EPA’s work in this space will advance Pillar 1: Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American, and Pillar 3: Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership.” EPA states that these actions...
April 22, 2025
Comments on Minnesota’s Proposed Rule for Reporting Products Containing Intentionally Added PFAS Are Due May 21, 2025
With the January 1, 2026, reporting deadline fast approaching for reporting on products containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), on April 21, 2025, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) published a proposed rule intended to clarify the reporting requirements, specify how and what to report, and establish fees. Written comments on the proposed rule are due May 21, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. (CDT). On May 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. (CDT), MPCA will...
April 11, 2025
New Mexico Will Phase Out Products Containing Intentionally Added PFAS and Require Reporting; Exemptions Include Fluoropolymers
On April 8, 2025, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed the Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Protection Act (HB 212). Like Minnesota and Maine, New Mexico will begin phasing out certain consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS, defining PFAS as “a substance in a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.” In 2032, New Mexico will prohibit products containing intentionally added PFAS unless the use of...
March 28, 2025
States Take Action to Regulate and Limit PFAS in Industrial Effluent Despite Federal Inaction
On January 21, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule seeking to set effluent limitation guidelines for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA) was withdrawn from Office of Management & Budget (OMB) review following President Trump’s Executive Order implementing a regulatory freeze. Federal action may be halted, but states are beginning to enact legislation that seeks to address PFAS contained in industrial...
On March 5, 2025, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) announced the availability of its final State of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Report (State of PFAS Report) and proposed risk management approach for PFAS, excluding fluoropolymers. The State of PFAS Report concludes that the class of PFAS, excluding fluoropolymers, is harmful to human health and the environment. To address these risks, on March 8, 2025, Canada published a proposed order that would add the...
On January 17, 2025, days before the end of President Biden’s term, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released two new enforcement documents: (1) Expedited Settlement Agreement (ESA) Pilot Program Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (FIFRA Settlement Pilot Program or Pilot Program); and (2) Interim Consolidated Enforcement Response and Penalty Policy (Interim CERPP) for the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) New and Existing Chemicals Program....