News ReleaseEPA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids to Make America Healthy AgainJuly 1, 2026 | Contact EPA's Press Office (press@epa.gov)WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing draft guidance to help wastewater utilities, landowners, and the public reduce risk from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids. This effort is part of EPA’s comprehensive, lifecycle-based strategy to address PFAS and Make America Healthy Again. EPA is taking a radically transparent approach by ensuring robust input is gathered to inform next steps. EPA will solicit comment on the draft guidance for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. Once the notice is published, comments can be submitted using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2026-2509. The notice will contain additional information on how to submit a comment.
“One of EPA’s top priorities is to Make America Healthy Again, and reducing risk from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids is a critical part of that effort,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. “This draft guidance will provide Americans with commonsense recommendations that can protect public health, while also supporting wastewater systems and beneficial use of biosolids when appropriate.”
The Trump EPA has gathered feedback from a wide range of stakeholders on this topic and recognizes the complexity associated with biosolids contaminated with PFOA and PFOS. After reviewing extensive public input, EPA determined that the previous administration's Draft Risk Assessment relied on assumptions too disconnected from real-world conditions to give Americans clear, actionable information. The agency received comments that flagged that there are risks at trace concentrations near the limit of detection, levels lower than those already found in everyday soil and household products. They also commented that the assessment relied on a simplified, straight-line risk calculation that independent scientists have questioned. Commenters underscored the assessment leaned on data from atypical, industrially contaminated sites while overlooking newer research from communities where ordinary household biosolids have been safely land-applied for decades. The Trump EPA will now issue guidance to transparently gather important feedback and chart a path forward that helps protect Americans from exposure to PFOA and PFOS in biosolids. There is real concern from farmers and ranchers who want to ensure their land is as healthy and productive as possible. At the same time, wastewater systems need a path forward for managing sewage sludge and biosolids from the communities they serve. In keeping with common best practices, EPA’s draft guidance recognizes the importance of reusing biosolids through land-application. It also provides commonsense recommendations for how to reduce risk by avoiding land application of biosolids near waterways and on lands where children play, and also by avoiding using biosolids as fertilizer of crops that have higher risk of human exposure. |
