SWANA Statement on EPA’s PFOA and PFOS CERCLA Designation

Silver Spring, MD – The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is troubled by the potential impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to list perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

“SWANA is very concerned that EPA designating PFAS compounds as hazardous substances under Superfund will have substantial impacts on landfills,” stated David Biderman, SWANA’s Executive Director and CEO. “It will cost billions of dollars that will be passed on to ratepayers and will likely have widespread unintended consequences, including deterring the cleanup of some sites in environmental justice communities. SWANA supports regulation that targets manufacturers and other companies that profited off of PFAS and will continue to work with EPA, Congress, and the States to ensure passive receivers like landfills are not unfairly put on the hook.”