U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Finalizes Recommended Aquatic Life Criteria and Benchmarks for PFAS

December 2024

California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 35, Number 3

On October 7, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its final recommended aquatic life criteria and benchmarks for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that harm human health and the environment. The EPA’s criteria and benchmarks represent the highest concentrations of PFAS in surface water that would allow fish and other aquatic species to live, grow, and reproduce and are the agency’s first set of PFAS-related water quality recommendations. Although the criteria and benchmarks are not legally binding, states and authorized Tribes can adopt EPA’s recommendations into their water quality standards for protecting the designated use of their water bodies.

Subscribers to the California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Western Water Law & Policy Reporter, or the Environmental, Energy, & Climate Change Reporter can read the full article here.