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PFAS: Responding to Orders to Investigate and Increasing State and Federal Scrutiny

Recording of a 90-minute CLE video webinar with Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Conducted on Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Recorded event now available

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE course will prepare environmental counsel for the growing number of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) related investigative orders by state and federal regulators. The EPA and state-level agencies target these chemicals, citing their pervasive use and potential for dispersing widely.

Description

Numerous consumer products such as cookware, fast food packaging, textiles, and firefighting foam use PFAS, a broad class of over 4,000 chemicals. Because of their relative persistence in the environment, they have been given the name "forever chemicals" by environmental groups. The U.S. EPA and state-level agencies target these chemicals, citing their pervasive use, potential for dispersing widely, and studies concerning the potential health effects.

While the EPA continues its accelerated rulemaking at the national level, many state programs have moved to promulgate varying standards, leaving a patchwork of federal and local regulations for the industry to navigate. Investigations and legal actions are increasing across the country, and counsel should understand how to prepare for and respond to PFAs investigations.

Listen as our expert panel offers guidance on responding when a governing authority issues an order to investigate potential PFAS contamination. The panel will address the growing scope of government enforcement authority, the implications of receiving an order, sampling issues, validity/reliability of analytical methods, monitoring, the availability of reliable fingerprinting and source tracing techniques, and current trends in the courtroom.

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Outline

  1. Federal regulatory efforts and growth
  2. State regulatory efforts and growth
  3. Nature of investigative inquiries
  4. Response to investigation

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key considerations:

  • What is the current status of EPA PFAS rulemaking?
  • How are the states regulating PFAS, and how do state regulations compare and/or interact with EPA requirements?
  • What are best practices for responding to orders to investigate?

Faculty

Brown, Lindsay
Lindsay A. Brown
Partner
Duane Morris

Ms. Brown's practice is blend of environmental law and commercial litigation, giving her a wide range of experience...  |  Read More

Zemba, Stephen
Stephen (Steve) Zemba, Ph.D., P.E.
Project Director
Sanborn Head & Associates

Dr. Zemba has over three decades of experience nationally as an environmental consulting specialist in the area of...  |  Read More

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Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include course handouts.

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