NSW EPA takes part in national PFAS Summit

The summit, coordinated by EPA Victoria on behalf of the Heads of EPAs Australia and New Zealand (HEPA) and the Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy, provided an opportunity for regulators to share their knowledge and experience of PFAS regulation.

Keynote speeches and workshops with local and international technical experts and regulators provided a backdrop to help inform the development of a consistent approach to PFAS regulation across Australia, through a National PFAS Management Plan.

NSW EPA Executive Director Hazardous Incidents and Environmental Health Sarah Gardner said the summit was particularly timely given the NSW EPA’s state-wide PFAS investigation program currently underway. 

“This is an area where the NSW Government has decided to be very cautious given this is an emerging contaminant and we are still unclear whether accumulations have any long term effects,” Mrs Gardner said.

“The national plan will help to secure good environmental practices at all PFAS contaminated sites across Australia, and help us to work together to manage any environmental and human health issues as they become known.”

You can read more about the NSW EPA’s state-wide PFAS investigation program on our website.

* Per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that include perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS). As they have heat, water and stain repelling properties, PFAS have been widely used in a range of industrial and consumer products both in Australia and internationally, including in fire retardants, water proofing, food preparation, food packaging, furnishings, shampoo, clothing and recreational equipment.