Public comment is open until April 30 on a proposed rule change that would allow the state to certify commercial, municipal or industrial laboratories to test for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and report that data back to the state.
The proposed revision adds PFAS to the list of parameters in an existing rule that will allow the N.C. Division of Water Resources to certify labs to use Environmental Protection Agency-approved methods for testing for PFAS and certify those results.
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The proposed rule can be viewed online as well as the regulatory impact analysis.
PFAS are manmade chemical compounds used in a variety of consumer products such nonstick cookware, stain resistant carpets, food packaging and waterproof gear, as well as firefighting foam. PFAS has been found in the drinking water sources of tens of thousands of North Carolinians.
The division will accept written comments through April 30 to deq.wr.certificationrulecomments@deq.nc.gov or Laboratory Certification Branch Manager, 1623 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC, 27699-1623.
There is also a public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. March 20 in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh. Members of the public can sign up to provide comment upon arrival.
“While the rule change is not expected to add additional requirements for permittees, the rule amendment would allow permittees to comply with requirements that monitoring data reported to the state on PFAS be performed by a certified laboratory,” officials said Tuesday.
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