News release: Environmental Rules Review Committee to consider PFAS in drinking water standard

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 24, 2020
EGLE Media Office, EGLE-Assist@Michigan.gov, 517-284-9278

Environmental Rules Review Committee to consider PFAS in drinking water standard

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced today that the state’s Environmental Rules Review Committee (ERRC) this week will consider draft rules limiting PFAS contamination in drinking water.

The ERRC meeting, which will be livestreamed, is scheduled from 1-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, in the Lee Walker Conference Room of Constitution Hall, 525 West Allegan Street in Lansing, Michigan.

The proposed rules will amend current rules to provide provisions that reduce exposure to seven PFAS compounds in drinking water. Approximately 2,700 water supplies in Michigan will be covered under the new rule. The provisions include establishing drinking water standards, sampling requirements, public notification requirements and laboratory certification criteria. The seven PFAS limits covered under the proposed rule are:

After going through a lengthy stakeholder review process, EGLE provided the draft rules to the ERRC in October. In November, the ERRC voted to move forward with the public hearing process. The public comment period for the draft rules opened in December and concluded Jan. 31. In January, public hearings took place in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Roscommon.

This week’s meeting will mark the third time the ERRC has considered the draft rules.

If approved by the ERRC, the draft rules and supporting documents will be forwarded to the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR), and then on to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). A final rule could be adopted by April 2020.

Known to scientists as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS are a group of emerging and potentially harmful contaminants used in thousands of applications globally including firefighting foam, food packaging and many other consumer products. These compounds also are used by industries such as tanneries, metal platers and clothing manufacturers.

For more information,  the ERRC and the draft rule are available online.  

Learn about PFAS at the MPART website.

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