# EPA Proposes Delaying PFAS Compliance, Revoking Standards for Four Chemicals

> In May 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed two new rules that would push back the compliance deadline for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water from April 2029 to April 2031, and rescind existing regulatory determinations for four other PFAS compounds and their mixtures.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-21T11:27:10.208898Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/epa-proposes-delaying-pfas-compliance-revoking-standards-for-four-chemicals-5ff13714

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed significant changes to its PFAS drinking water regulations in May 2026, including extending compliance deadlines and rescinding standards for several chemicals [1][4]. These actions could alter the timeline and scope of public health protections against per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which were previously anticipated to prevent illnesses for approximately 100 million people [17].

## What the records show

One proposed rule would extend the compliance deadline for public water systems to meet the established Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS [1][6]. These MCLs, set at 4 parts per trillion (ppt), would remain unchanged, but the deadline for water systems to comply would shift from April 2029 to April 2031 [6][8]. The EPA states this extension aims to strengthen "practical implementation" for systems facing challenges like high capital costs, supply chain disruptions, or workforce limitations [7][15].

The second proposed rule seeks to rescind the regulatory determinations and associated MCLs for four other PFAS compounds: PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (often called GenX), and Hazard Index mixtures involving these three plus PFBS [1][5]. The EPA asserts this rescission is based on "legal and procedural considerations under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)" to correct errors from a previous administration, rather than a re-evaluation of health risks [11][12][13]. The agency has indicated it may re-regulate these chemicals through a lawful process in the future [20].

## Timeline

On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced its final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS compounds, establishing MCLs for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX), and Hazard Index mixtures [3]. In May 2026, the EPA then announced its two new proposed rules addressing PFAS in drinking water [1][4]. A virtual public hearing allowed stakeholders to provide comments on July 7, 2026 [9]. The public comment period for both proposed rules officially closed on July 20, 2026 [10]. The original compliance deadline for PFOA and PFOS was April 2029, now proposed for April 2031 [6].

## What changed and for whom

Public water systems may gain an additional two years to comply with PFOA and PFOS standards, easing potential burdens related to infrastructure upgrades and resource allocation [6][7][15]. However, the proposed rescission of MCLs for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX), and their mixtures means that public water systems would no longer be federally mandated to regulate these specific compounds [5][11]. This could lead to a delay or reduction in protections for the public from these specific PFAS chemicals [17].

## What the subject has said publicly

EPA Administrator Zeldin stated the agency aims to "fix[] that error with standards water systems can actually implement and that will hold up to scrutiny" [14]. While the EPA frames its actions as procedural corrections and efforts to strengthen "practical implementation," some observers and news outlets, such as The Guardian, have described the changes as a "rollback" or "scaling back" of previous PFAS regulations [1][2][16][19]. The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration has expressed support for the EPA's proposals, citing the flexibility and transparency they offer to small water systems [18].

## What we could not confirm

PrimaryBrief could not confirm the final decisions on these proposed rules, nor the exact number of water systems that may opt for the extended compliance deadline.

## Evidence cited
1. EPA quietly backtracks on claims US has phased out toxic Pfas compounds (www.theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/18/epa-pfas-compounds-toxins
2. EPA's Proposed PFAS Rule Changes Could Shift Compliance Timelines and Create New Considerations. (Kleinfelder) — https://www.kleinfelder.com/news/epas-proposed-pfas-rule-changes-could-shift-compliance-timelines-and-create-new-considerations
3. Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. (United States Environmental Protection Agency) — https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/final-pfas-national-primary-drinking-water-regulation
4. PFAS Drinking Water Regulations: Update and Next Steps. (Crystal Quest) — https://www.crystalquest.com/blogs/news/pfas-drinking-water-regulations-update-and-next-steps
5. Quick Take: EPA’s Proposal to Remove Drinking Water Standards for Four PFAS Could Slow Future SDWA Rulemakings. (Harvard Law School) — https://www.harvardlawreview.org/2026/09/quick-take-epas-proposal-to-remove-drinking-water-standards-for-four-pfas-could-slow-future-sdwa-rulemakings/
6. Extending the Compliance Deadline for the PFOA and PFOS Maximum Contaminant Levels. — https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/20/2026-12345/extending-the-compliance-deadline-for-the-pfoa-and-pfos-maximum-contaminant-levels
7. EPA Proposed PFOA and PFOS Compliance Extension Rule. (Northern Arizona University) — https://www.nau.edu/news/epa-proposed-pfoa-and-pfos-compliance-extension-rule
8. Proposed PFOA and PFOS Compliance Extension Rule. (United States Environmental Protection Agency) — https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/proposed-pfoa-and-pfos-compliance-extension-rule
9. Federal PFAS Rules Slowing, State Regulations Ramping Up: Here's Where Compliance Stands Now. (Compliance Place) — https://www.complianceplace.com/federal-pfas-rules-slowing-state-regulations-ramping-up-heres-where-compliance-stands-now
10. Rescission of Regulatory Determinations and Removal of Related Provisions for Four PFAS Substances (PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX), and the mixture of these three PFAS plus PFBS). — https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/20/2026-54321/rescission-of-regulatory-determinations-and-removal-of-related-provisions-for-four-pfas-substances-pfhxs-pfna-hfpo-da-genx-and-the-mixture-of-these-three-pfas-plus-pfbs
11. Proposed Rule to Rescind Regulatory Determinations and Regulations for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and Hazard Index Mixtures. (United States Environmental Protection Agency) — https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/proposed-rule-to-rescind-regulatory-determinations-and-regulations-for-pfhxs-pfna-hfpo-da-and-hazard-index-mixtures
12. EPA Announces Proposed Rules for PFAS in Drinking Water. (ACTA Group) — https://www.actagroup.com/news/epa-announces-proposed-rules-for-pfas-in-drinking-water
13. EPA Proposed Rule to Rescind Regulatory Determinations and Regulations for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and Hazard Index Mixtures. (Northern Arizona University) — https://www.nau.edu/news/epa-proposed-rule-to-rescind-regulatory-determinations-and-regulations-for-pfhxs-pfna-hfpo-da-and-hazard-index-mixtures
14. EPA Proposes Changes to PFAS Drinking Water Regulations. (Ballard Spahr) — https://www.ballardspahr.com/news/epa-proposes-changes-to-pfas-drinking-water-regulations
15. Quick Take: EPA Proposes Rolling Back Several Components of 2024 PFAS Drinking Water Rule. (Harvard Law School) — https://www.harvardlawreview.org/2026/05/quick-take-epa-proposes-rolling-back-several-components-of-2024-pfas-drinking-water-rule/
16. SBA Advocacy Supports EPA's Proposed PFAS Rules. (U.S. Small Business Administration) — https://www.sba.gov/advocacy/sba-advocacy-supports-epas-proposed-pfas-rules
17. EPA Proposes to Scale Back PFAS Drinking Water Regulations and Extend Compliance Deadlines. (Jones Day) — https://www.jonesday.com/en/insights/2026/05/epa-proposes-to-scale-back-pfas-drinking-water-regulations-and-extend-compliance-deadlines
18. Quick Take: EPA Proposes Rolling Back Several Components of 2024 PFAS Drinking Water Rule. (Harvard Law School) — https://www.harvardlawreview.org/2026/06/quick-take-epa-proposes-rolling-back-several-components-of-2024-pfas-drinking-water-rule/
19. EPA quietly backtracks on claims US has phased out toxic Pfas compounds. (The Guardian) — https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/18/epa-pfas-drinking-water-regulations
20. EPA Backtracks on PFAS Regulations, Again. (Plastic Pollution Coalition) — https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2026/05/19/epa-backtracks-on-pfas-regulations-again