Learn how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is strengthening national and international efforts to combat PFAS pollution through science-based regulations, global partnerships, community support, and innovative technologies to protect human health and the environment.
EPA is committed to combating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution. This work is guided by the principles of strengthening science, meeting legal obligations, strengthening communication and building partnerships.
Advancing scientific understanding through PFAS testing strategies
In April 2025, the agency announced it would implement a PFAS testing strategy under TSCA Section 4, requiring scientific information informed by hazard characteristics and routes of exposure. EPA is exploring ways to refine this strategy to accurately reflect the President’s directives, avoid undue burdens on industry, and protect human health and the environment.
International cooperation on AFFF phase-out
EPA is working with international partners in the Arctic to address PFAS contamination resulting from the application of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF). EPA recently co-hosted the AFFF Arctic Phase-Out Workshop in Helsinki, Finland, with Arctic stakeholders from oil and gas, national defense, government, and indigenous communities. The workshop focused on transitioning away from fire extinguishing foams containing PFAS and exploring alternatives to AFFF used in firefighting operations.
The two-day workshop was held at the Finnish Environmental Research Institute and was implemented through the Arctic Council’s Arctic Pollutants Action Program. Experts presented research, programs, and expertise related to PFAS/AFFF analysis, removal, remediation, and inventory disposal, as well as shared case studies on steps taken to transition away from AFFF. The experts also shared their opinions on various alternatives and their effectiveness at remote commercial and military airports and energy and fuel supply facilities in the Arctic. Many of the alternatives are effective and safe in the environment and meet new U.S. military specifications to qualify them as replacements for AFFF.
Finland shared plans for a Phase 2 project, and participants considered next steps to develop a project to identify stocks of AFFF in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, and refine guidance for communities to remove AFFF from fire facilities.
EPA is convening a technical subgroup that began in July 2025 and is expected to begin project work in fall 2025.
Strengthening regulations and safe drinking water standards
EPA’s impressive work on PFAS began under the first Trump administration and continues today. On April 28, the agency announced a series of actions to combat PFAS, including in water. On May 14, 2025, EPA announced its intent to maintain the existing maximum contaminant levels (or MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS and extend their compliance deadlines.
EPA also plans to rescind its regulations and reconsider its regulatory decisions on PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (commonly known as GenX), and the hazard index mixture of these three plus PFBS. This second measure ensures that the agency’s regulatory decisions and resulting drinking water regulations follow the legal process set forth in the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Agency plans to issue two proposed regulations in the coming months to advance these intentions. After EPA completes these two actions, EPA will follow the legal process of the Safe Drinking Water Act to determine which additional PFAS should be regulated. EPA cannot predetermine the outcome, but more stringent requirements may result.
In the short term, many water systems are taking proactive steps to comply with state regulations or reduce PFAS in drinking water. EPA is actively working to ensure that drinking water systems are in compliance when it becomes effective.
Supporting communities through the PFAS OUTreach initiative
This year, the agency will launch a new PFAS OUTreach Initiative (called PFAS OUT) to connect all public water systems known to need system upgrades to address PFAS, including facilities where PFOA or PFOS has been found in the water. The agency will share resources, tools, funding information, and technical assistance opportunities to help ensure that communities are not left behind in their efforts to protect public health and have water systems compliant with PFAS drinking water standards. PFAS OUT works with utilities, technical assistance providers, and local, state, tribal, and territorial leaders to develop effective, practical solutions where they are needed most.
In addition, EPA’s Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) suite of initiatives provides water systems with expertise to improve drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater at no cost, and helps communities access available funding. Specifically, EPA’s Emerging Contaminants (TEC) Initiative WaterTA initiative works with water systems across the country to assess and identify affordable solutions to address PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS.
TEC services include water quality testing, technology plan development, operator training support, public engagement and outreach strategy design, and support in accessing federal funding opportunities. The agency also recognizes that water systems are passive recipients of PFAS and is committed to addressing PFAS at the source and holding polluters accountable.
Enforcement and accountability
EPA will focus its CERCLA enforcement efforts on holding accountable parties that significantly contribute to the release of PFAS into the environment, including parties that manufacture PFAS, parties that use PFAS in manufacturing processes, federal facilities, and other industry participants. EPA does not intend to pursue potentially responsible parties, such as community water systems or publicly owned treatment works, where pursuing response actions and costs under CERCLA is not supported by equity factors. EPA can also provide contribution protection through settlements to parties that do not intend to seek a CERCLA cleanup. Parties that resolve liability through a CERCLA settlement with the United States will not be liable for third-party contribution claims related to matters addressed in the settlement.
Promoting innovation in PFAS treatment technology
Concerns about the effectiveness of currently widely used technologies to manage PFAS and PFAS-containing materials are driving efforts to develop new technologies and apply existing technologies to PFAS materials. EPA is aware of, and in some cases has participated in, efforts to identify, develop, and test nonthermal destruction techniques for PFAS-containing materials. EPA’s efforts to identify and test new technologies are described in Section 6 of EPA’s Interim Guidance for Destruction and Disposal of PFAS and PFAS-Containing Materials. The interim guidance also includes a technology assessment framework that provides a transparent and consistent approach to evaluating destruction and disposal technologies for PFAS materials. This framework can be used by managers of PFAS-containing materials and others to evaluate new destruction and disposal techniques and inform decision-making regarding the management of PFAS-containing materials.
Transparency and public engagement
EPA is committed to providing the American public with meaningful, understandable, and actionable information about PFAS. The information provided on EPA’s PFAS web page includes important background information needed to understand the details of specific actions EPA is taking to address PFAS and other emerging events related to PFAS.
EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention issues announcements to stakeholders and the public when it takes important steps to protect human health and the environment from risks posed by chemicals. These announcements will be sent to people who have signed up for email alerts about pollution prevention and toxic chemical news. A link to sign up for email alerts is available on the EPA website.
PFAS continues to be a collaborative effort with political and career leaders across the agency.
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