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Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA” or “Superfund”), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is moving to finalize the designation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro octane sulfonic acid (PFOS), including their salts and structural isomers, as hazardous substances. CERCLA authorizes the Administrator to promulgate regulations designating as hazardous substances such elements, compounds, mixtures, solutions, and substances which, when released into the environment, may present substantial danger to the public health or welfare or the environment. Such a designation would ultimately facilitate cleanup of contaminated sites and reduce human exposure to these “forever” chemicals.

Statement of Need: Designating PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances will require reporting of releases of PFOA and PFOS that meet or exceed the reportable quantity assigned to these substances. This will enable Federal, State, Tribal and local authorities to collect information regarding the location and extent of releases.

Summary of the Legal Basis: No aspect of this action is required by statute or court order.

Alternatives: The Agency identified through the 2019 PFAS Action Plan that one of the goals was to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances. EPA determined that we have enough information to propose this designation.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: The EPA is analyzing the potential costs and benefits associated with this action with respect to the reporting of any release of the subject hazardous substances to the Federal, State, and local authorities. Currently EPA expects to estimate lower and upper-bound reporting cost scenarios.

Risks: This is a reporting rule and will enable Federal, State, Tribal and local authorities to collect information regarding the location and extent of releases.