The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15, which provides information on how the Agency will work to guard the nation’s waterways by:

• Ensuing Clean Water Act to develop technology-based pollution limits.
• Studying on wastewater discharges from industrial sources.

This Plan focuses on assessing the level and nature of both nutrient and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) discharges. Through the effluent guidelines program, EPA’s is making clear statements that effluent limitation guidelines and pre-treatment standards (ELGs) are required to reduce PFAS in leachate emissions from landfills. ELGs are technology-based regulations established on the performance and costs of demonstrated wastewater control and treatment technologies.

The Agency arrived at the above conclusion after completing a detailed study discussed in Preliminary Waste Guidelines Program Plan 15.

New and detailed studies are being announced by the Agency as a part of the action:

• Further study of PFAS discharges from textile manufacturers.
• A new study of publicly owned treatment works (POTW) influents: To characterize the PFAS concentrations from industrial dischargers to POTWs. Shed light on the implementation of pre-treatment programs to considerably reduce the PFAs.
• A new study on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to make an informed, reasoned decision on whether to undertake rulemaking to modify the ELGs for CAFOs.