Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§8961 PFAS destruction and disposal guidance

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 115— - PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AND EMERGING CONTAMINANTS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - OTHER MATTERS › § 8961

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The EPA Administrator must publish interim guidance by December 20, 2020 on how to destroy and dispose of PFAS and materials that contain PFAS. The guidance must cover six kinds of materials, including firefighting foam; contaminated soil and biosolids; treated non-consumer textiles; spent water‑treatment media (like filters, resins, and granular carbon); landfill leachate; and PFAS waste from places that make or use these chemicals. The guidance must think about how PFAS might escape during disposal (for example into the air or into leachate) and about people who live near likely disposal sites. It must include advice on testing and monitoring air, effluent, and soil. The EPA must update the guidance as needed, and at least once every 3 years.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §8961

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Not later than 1 year after December 20, 2019, the Administrator shall publish interim guidance on the destruction and disposal of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and materials containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, including—

(1)aqueous film-forming foam;

(2)soil and biosolids;

(3)textiles, other than consumer goods, treated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances;

(4)spent filters, membranes, resins, granular carbon, and other waste from water treatment;

(5)landfill leachate containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; and

(6)solid, liquid, or gas waste streams containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances from facilities manufacturing or using perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

(b)The interim guidance under subsection (a) shall—

(1)take into consideration—

(A)the potential for releases of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances during destruction or disposal, including through volatilization, air dispersion, or leachate; and

(B)potentially vulnerable populations living near likely destruction or disposal sites; and

(2)provide guidance on testing and monitoring air, effluent, and soil near potential destruction or disposal sites for releases described in paragraph (1)(A).

(c)The Administrator shall publish revisions to the interim guidance under subsection (a) as the Administrator determines to be appropriate, but not less frequently than once every 3 years.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 8961

Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73