Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§8961 Pfas Destruction and Disposal Guidance

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administrator must publish interim guidance within 1 year after December 20, 2019, on how to destroy and dispose of PFAS and things that contain PFAS. The guidance must cover six kinds of material, including firefighting foam, contaminated soil and biosolids, treated (non‑consumer) textiles, used water‑treatment media (filters, resins, carbon), landfill leachate, and waste streams from facilities that make or use PFAS. The guidance must consider ways PFAS could be released during disposal (for example into air or water) and people who might be especially at risk near disposal sites. It must also tell how to test and monitor air, wastewater, and soil near those sites. The Administrator must update the guidance as needed, but at least once every 3 years.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §8961

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

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)Considerations; inclusions

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)Revisions

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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110