Overview
Steptoe partner Michael Boucher was quoted in Chemical Watch's article, "US EPA Reaffirms Superfund Designations for PFOA and PFOS." The article explains the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) eagerly awaited decision to defend its hazardous substance designations for two PFAS chemicals under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and highlights the legal consequences of EPA's decision.
The article discusses the resumption of litigation challenging EPA's designations of PFOA and PFOS and USEPA's intent to develop a framework for future hazardous substance designations under CERCLA. Michael observed that EPA's decision "gives EPA and third parties a lot of new tools to clean up PFAS contamination." He also remarked that the ongoing "litigation will pick up, a briefing schedule will be established, and then we'll all watch … from the audience."
Read more at Chemical Watch (subscription required).