Overview

• Justice Department lawyers told a federal court that EPA will keep the rule designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances in place.
• The designation expands EPA authority to pursue cleanup and seek polluter payments at contaminated sites under Superfund-style tools.
• EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency aims to hold polluters accountable while urging Congress to provide exemptions for passive receivers that did not manufacture or generate the chemicals.
• EPA said it plans a future rule to create a uniform process for additional hazardous-substance designations that considers costs to industry.
• Earthjustice welcomed the defense of the designations but criticized the administration’s separate plan to delay and narrow PFAS drinking-water regulations.