Rulemaking Update

Chapter 890, Designation of PFOS as a Priority Chemical - Reopen comment period, public hearing scheduled

Fact Sheet (PDF) :: Draft Rule Chapter (PDF) :: DHHS Concurrence :: Comment on this Rule

Concise Summary:

The Department is reopening the public comment period for Chapter 890 and scheduling a public hearing before the Board of Environmental Protection. Since the initial posting and the April 23 public hearing, the Department amended the draft rule to clarify the products covered. The amended rule was posted for a thirty-day comment period on October 2. Prior to the close of that comment period the Department received more than five requests for a public hearing.

The Department is proposing that the Board adopt the new rule that will designate perfluorooctane sulfonic acid ("PFOS") as a priority chemical and require reporting for certain product categories that contains this regulated chemical. The proposed rule applies to manufacturers of specified product categories that contain intentionally added amounts of PFOS, which is often used to make clothing water repellent, among many other uses.

Agency contact:
Kerri Malinowski
17 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0017
207-215-1894

Public hearing: Jamuary 23, 2020, 9:00 AM
Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Drive
Augusta

Public noticed: October 2, 2019

Comment deadline: February 3, 2020, 5:00 PM