Look for new editions every month, and feel free to reach out to the McGuireWoods PFAS & Emerging Contaminants Practice Area with questions regarding PFAS issues.
Contaminants Compass: May 2026 Edition
Discusses a proposed extension by EPA for compliance deadlines for PFOA and PFOS MCLs, the withdrawal of a proposed RCRA Corrective Action Rule, PFAS limits in food and results of infant formula contaminant testing from the FDA, a putative consumer class action addressing PFAS claims in garments, notable regulatory updates regarding a PFAS cookware ban in Maine, stricter rules on PFAS and other pollutants adopted by the EU, and more.
Contaminants Compass: April 2026 Edition
Addresses such topics as EPA delays PFAS reporting rule start date, D.C. Circuit denies EPA’s request to sever and stay challenges to drinking water standards for PFAS, New Mexico’s PFAS product labeling requirement update, and more
Contaminants Compass: March 2026 Edition
Examines Trump administration’s progress against its 2025 PFAS plan, including changes in EPA’s approach to drinking water regulations and CERCLA designations, state actions on biosolids, PFAS bans on sports equipment and other outdoor gear, and more.
Contaminants Compass: February 2026 Edition
Reviews such topics as D.C. Circuit won’t let EPA vacate PFAS rules until litigation moves forward, concerns over PFAS in waste grow in Virginia Legislature, Smucker Pet Food buyers win class certification in PFAS disclosure fight, and more.
Contaminants Compass: January 2026 Edition
Highlights EPA’s recent guidance on how its designation of PFOS and PFOA as CERCLA hazardous substances will impact the Brownfields Program, state petitions to include microplastics in the EPA’s Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) for drinking water, updates on PFAS regulations in select states, and relevant D.C. Circuit litigation.
Contaminants Compass: December 2025 Edition
Analyzes stakeholder pushback on the EPA’s Draft Biosolids Risk Assessment and continued briefing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit over the EPA’s designation of two PFAS compounds, as hazardous substances under CERCLA. It also reviews recent appellate activity examining state efforts to separate aqueous film‑forming foam (AFFF) and non-AFFF PFAS claims, a New Jersey county’s challenge to the state’s $400 million settlement with 3M, and New Mexico’s proposal of the nation’s first comprehensive PFAS product labeling requirement.
Contaminants Compass: November 2025 Edition
Considers EPA’s important proposed changes to reporting obligations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), continued federal regulatory developments concerning EPA’s National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for PFAS and EPA and other agency efforts to address PFAS in soil, California’s PFAS advisory levels for drinking water and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s veto of legislation that would have banned the sale of certain PFAS-containing products, additional regulatory updates in Maine and Minnesota, updates concerning important litigation developments including the status of the petition for review challenging EPA’s December 2020 Final Risk Evaluation for 1,4-Dioxane under TSCA, and actions in Australia and the EU related to PFAS.
Contaminants Compass: October 2025 Edition
Highlights the EPA’s prioritization of review for chemicals used for data center projects, the EPA’s Unified Regulatory Agenda and upcoming actions, developments concerning Minnesota and New Mexico PFAS reporting rules, and dismissal of a suit to compel the EPA to regulate biosolids.
Contaminants Compass: September 2025 Edition
Addresses EPA’s decision to defend the designation of two PFAS as CERCLA hazardous substances, a proposed rule revising PFAS reporting requirements under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), new EPA guidance on best practices for PFAS sampling, the Government Accountability Office review of EPA’s economic analysis of PFAS drinking water standards, potential executive actions related to PFAS, updates to states’ regulation of PFAS and beneficial uses of treated waste, and PFAS litigation.
Contaminants Compass: August 2025 Edition
Highlights the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) recent update on critical PFAS uses, continued attention to the possible link between PFAS and sewage sludge and wastewater treatment plants, the EPA’s elimination of its Office of Research and Development (ORD), and updates on states’ regulations of microplastics and PFAS, and PFAS litigation.
Contaminants Compass: July 2025 Edition
Examines the SEC’s withdrawal of proposed rules related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment practices, the potential inclusion of microplastics in the EPA’s Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, Delaware’s efforts to reduce PFAS levels in drinking water and updates on the aqueous film-forming foam multidistrict litigation’s (AFFF MDL’s) recent science day. The newsletter also looks at an Italian court’s sentencing of former chemical executives in a first-ever criminal conviction for PFAS contamination.
Contaminants Compass: June 2025 Edition
Reviews the MAHA Report’s assessment of public health risks from exposure to PFAS, an update on stakeholder actions in response to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reporting requirements, the findings of a recent study of the alleged presence of PFAS in beer, an update on Minnesota’s proposed PFAS disclosure rules, new PFAS-related legislation in Washington and Maine, and ongoing litigation in New Jersey and North Carolina federal courts over alleged PFAS contamination.
Contaminants Compass: May 2025 Edition
Highlights EPA’s maintenance of current Maximum Containment Levels (MCLs) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and a planned extension of compliance deadlines, stakeholder actions in response to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reporting requirements, the EPA’s further delay in TSCA reporting obligations and signaling the potential for additional changes, an update on the new PFAS reporting requirements in Minnesota, and PFAS-related legislative action in North Carolina and Tennessee.
Contaminants Compass: April 2025 Special Edition
This special edition provides an update on the EPA’s April 28, 2025, announcement of a comprehensive set of actions targeting PFAS contamination as part of the Trump administration’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative.
Contaminants Compass: April 2025 Edition
Discusses updates from EPA administrator, changes in PFAS monitoring under the proposed 2026 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit, congressional action on the CERCLA Hazardous Substance Rule, recent developments in the aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) multidistrict litigation (MDL), New Mexico’s new PFAS regulations in consumer products and Canada’s approach to regulating PFAS as a class of toxic substances.
Contaminants Compass: March 2025 Edition
Highlights recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action concerning customer-notification obligations, important litigation updates in both federal and state courts, and continued focus on the potential for PFAS in biosolids.
Contaminants Compass: February 2025 Edition
Discusses updates on federal PFAS regulatory and litigation matters, a review of activities in several states, and a look at recent studies on the use of bacteria to break down PFAS and on PFAS levels detected in the blood of Maui firefighters.
Contaminants Compass: January 2025 Edition
Explores the addition of nine PFAS to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory; Minnesota’s request for comment on the state’s new PFAS ban; new PFAS litigation (including multiple lawsuits over alleged PFAS contamination); and details of a recent EPA report on biosolids.
Contaminants Compass: December 2024 Edition
Addresses updates on significant federal PFAS regulatory and litigation matters, a look ahead to the second Trump administration, state regulations banning PFAS in apparel and new research on removing PFAS in water treatment.
Contaminants Compass: November 2024 Edition
Considers new state attorney general and other PFAS litigation (including courts’ evolving treatment of PFAS testing questions) and state legislative developments, and updates on the status of recent challenges to EPA regulations.
Contaminants Compass: October 2024 Edition
Discusses recent federal PFAS strategies and regulatory developments; litigation concerning PFAS in consumer products, biosolids, and landfills; and EPA’s Interim PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance.
Contaminants Compass: September 2024 Edition
Highlights how to differentiate two upcoming Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reporting deadlines, updates on significant federal PFAS regulatory and litigation matters, and new research on potential PFAS contamination and exposure pathways.
Contaminants Compass: August 2024 Edition
Discusses litigation against Environmental Protection Agency concerning alleged failures to regulate under the Clean Water Act the spread of sludge contaminated by PFAS, three recent decisions by New York federal courts rejecting inadequate product testing in support of litigation claiming PFAS contamination, numerous enacted and promulgated state statutes banning PFAS in consumer and other products, and disclosure requirements in connection with home sales.
Contaminants Compass: July 2024 Edition
Considers potential headwinds to federal PFAS regulatory actions, updates on significant federal PFAS litigation, and new research on potential PFAS contamination and exposure pathways.
Contaminants Compass: June 2024 Edition
Addresses a potential challenge to the EPA’s newly promulgated PFAS Drinking Water Regulation, commenced and potential PFAS litigation, and recently enacted PFAS-related state statutes.
Contaminants Compass: May 2024 Edition
Examines new EPA guidance and rules on PFAS enforcement, destruction, and disposal, and TSCA reporting and recording requirements; updates in the AFFF MDL litigation; recent McGuireWoods’ analysis of important insurance implications as PFAS litigation continues to grow; and new federal and state legislative developments.
Contaminants Compass: April 2024 Special Edition
This special edition provides an update on the Environmental Protection Agency’s long-anticipated decision to designate two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). EPA also released a PFAS Enforcement Discretion and Settlement Policy Under CERCLA memorandum intended to guide how the agency exercises its CERCLA enforcement discretion in matters involving PFAS.
Contaminants Compass: April 2024 Edition
Discusses the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule setting strict limits for six PFAS in drinking water and other important EPA developments including its FY2025 budget increase request; the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent guidance concerning cleaning firefighting vehicles and equipment; the U.S. District Court’s recent final approval of the 3M AFFF MDL settlement with water districts around the country; and important federal and state legislative developments.
Contaminants Compass: March 2024 Edition
Addresses a new test the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed to detect PFAS in plastic containers, the latest PFAS analysis on birth weight defects, PFAS in food packaging, new potential PFAS litigation, and other federal and state PFAS-related issues.
Contaminants Compass: February 2024 Edition
Considers two proposed federal rules that would expand EPA’s authority to require investigation and cleanup of PFAS releases, recent federal and state legislative efforts, new PFAS litigation, and other federal and state PFAS-related issues.
Contaminants Compass: January 2024 Edition
Discusses EPA’s Second Annual Progress Report on PFAS Strategic Roadmap, analyzes an important development in insurance coverage for PFAS issues, and provides a short summary of other PFAS-related issues.