The Environment Protection Agency on Monday asked a federal appellate court for a third extension in a lawsuit challenging drinking water limits on “forever chemicals.”
The lawsuit was brought by two leading water utility membership groups last year for rules regulating the presence of certain PFAS in drinking water.
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In a court filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the agency said the abeyance would allow time to “allow parties to confer and seek agreement on proposals” ahead of the EPA’s planned announcement on the rules.
According to the filing, none of the parties objected to the request.
In April, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin outlined agency actions to address PFAS.
Those actions include “designation of an agency lead for PFAS, the creation of effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for certain PFAS to stop these forever chemicals from entering drinking water systems, and initiatives to engage with Congress and industry to establish a clear liability framework that ensures the polluter pays and passive receivers are protected.”
In the court filing, the EPA said the three-week delay was “appropriate” to decide on a planned course of action and for the parties in the lawsuit to evaluate how the agency’s announcement would affect the litigation.
