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MassDEP outlines PFAS response steps, cites 56 treatment systems and ongoing standards work
Summary
At June 27 BWSC office hours, MassDEP said it is coordinating PFAS cleanup standards with drinking-water MCLs, maintaining 56 point-of-entry systems and providing bottled water at about 30 sites while evaluating imminent-hazard responses and awaiting federal and state regulatory updates.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection officials used June 27 Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup office hours to lay out how the agency is responding to PFAS contamination and preparing new cleanup standards.
The department said it is working to align cleanup reportable concentrations and groundwater cleanup standards with forthcoming drinking-water maximum contaminant levels. "We currently have 56 point of entry treatment systems that we are maintaining and sampling, and providing bottled water at approximately another 30 sites," John Ziegler, the statewide PFAS coordinator, said during the call.
Why it matters: PFAS compounds are persistent in the environment and pose complex regulatory and public-health challenges. MassDEP described a multi-bureau effort involving the Bureau of Water Resources, the Drinking Water Program and Office of Research and Standards to update toxicity evaluations and ensure consistent protective numbers across media.
Officials said the Office of Research and Standards is concluding a technical review that will feed into state cleanup standards and that those standards will also be informed by the federal EPA MCL process. "Since the announcement of the EPA MCL, we recognize that our standards will change both on reportable concentrations and risk based standards," Ziegler said.
MassDEP described current imminent-hazard (IH) operations: if responsible parties are not available to respond, the agency will step in to mitigate IH conditions, initially using bottled water and then installing point-of-entry systems where appropriate. The agency is evaluating the role of point-of-use devices as an alternative, but has not made a decision and is coordinating with U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development on pilot work.
The department also flagged internal guidance work: development of a PFAS Q&A document, a CAM protocol for EPA Method 1633 finalized in February, and updates to sampling and analysis guidance last issued in November 2023.
On legislation, staff confirmed the PFAS omnibus bill (referenced in chat as H.4486) is in the House Ways and Means Committee and was described as having majority support but still awaiting action before the session ended.
Next steps: MassDEP said it will continue to report imminent-hazard statistics and guidance progress and invited stakeholder input on the efficacy of point-of-use options as it finalizes technical documents.
Ending: The agency asked stakeholders to direct PFAS questions to the PFAS coordinator and noted further discussion will be available at the next advisory committee meeting on Aug. 15.
