Skip to Main Content

EPA Announces Upcoming Plans to Address PFAS

Date: 7 May 2025
US Policy and Regulatory Alert

On 28 April 2025, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s upcoming plans to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). This marks the new administration’s most significant announcement related to PFAS since President Donald Trump returned to office, and EPA indicated there will be “more to come” regarding PFAS.

The planned actions span several EPA programs and are guided by the following stated principles: “strengthening the science, fulfilling statutory obligations and enhancing communication, and building partnerships.”EPA plans to designate an agency lead for PFAS to align these efforts across the agency. Some notable planned actions are as follows:

  • EPA intends to “address the most significant compliance challenges” related to the national primary drinking water regulations (NPDWR) for PFAS. For more information on the NPDWRs, see our prior alert
  • The agency will also enforce Clean Water Act and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) limitations on PFAS use and release to prevent further contamination.
  • EPA plans to implement TSCA section 8(a)(7) to collect “necessary information [on PFAS] ... without overburdening small businesses and article importers.” The TSCA PFAS Reporting Rule has broad reporting requirements, which currently apply to article importers without de minimis exemptions. For a detailed summary of the Rule, which remains unchanged at this time, see our previous alert.
  • The agency will work with Congress and industry members to establish a “clear liability framework” for PFAS based on a “polluter pays” model that protects “passive receivers.”
  • EPA also plans to develop and release effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for “PFAS manufacturers and metal finishers” and consider other ELGs that may be necessary to reduce PFAS discharges. 

EPA’s full news release is available here. The agency has not yet provided additional details or a timeline for carrying out these efforts. Our Emerging Contaminants group is tracking PFAS developments as well as developments for other newly regulated contaminants on our Emerging Contaminants web page. The Emerging Contaminants web page is also where you can find a listing of our lawyers able to assist you in navigating these issues. 

This publication/newsletter is for informational purposes and does not contain or convey legal advice. The information herein should not be used or relied upon in regard to any particular facts or circumstances without first consulting a lawyer. Any views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the law firm's clients.

Return to top of page

Email Disclaimer

We welcome your email, but please understand that if you are not already a client of K&L Gates LLP, we cannot represent you until we confirm that doing so would not create a conflict of interest and is otherwise consistent with the policies of our firm. Accordingly, please do not include any confidential information until we verify that the firm is in a position to represent you and our engagement is confirmed in a letter. Prior to that time, there is no assurance that information you send us will be maintained as confidential. Thank you for your consideration.

Accept Cancel