Interim Recommendations for Addressing Groundwater Contaminated with PFOA and PFOS

EPA is rescinding its 2019 memorandum “Interim Recommendations to Address Groundwater Contaminated with Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluorooctanesulfonate” because it no longer reflects the best, currently available science. In addition, by rescinding the memorandum, public health will be better protected because site managers will resume using well-established processes for making site-specific decisions that can protect people from pollution. As a result of this action, more contaminated groundwater will be investigated for PFOA and PFOS contamination and potentially cleaned up based on the latest science.

The Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS, 1989) and Regional Screening Levels are existing  tools to evaluate and address PFOA- and PFOS-contaminated groundwater that is an actual or potential source of drinking water subject to federal cleanup programs (e.g., CERCLA actions, including federal facility cleanup programs and RCRA corrective action programs)