▶ 미국 환경보호국(Environmental Protection Agency, EPA)은 식수에 들어있는 PFOS(Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, 퍼을루오로옥탄술폰산)와 PFOA(Perfluorooctanoic acid, 퍼플루오로옥탄산염)를 효과적으로 규제하기 위해 이에 대한 규제 시행 여부를 결정할 것을 제안함.

▶ PFOS와 PFOA는 EPA의 4차 ‘CCL(Contaminant candidate list’)에 포함된 8가지 규제 고려 물질 중 2가지임. CCL은 공공 용수에 존재하거나 존재할 것으로 예상되는 물질을 정리한 목록으로, 현재 이 물질들은 식수 관련 규제 대상이 아님. CCL이 최종 마무리되면, EPA는 각 물질에 대한 규제가 적절한지를 결정하게 됨.

▶ 4차 CCL에서 EPA는 PFOS 및 PFOA에 대한 규제 필요 여부를 결정할 것을 제안하였으나 나머지 6개 물질(1,1-디클로로에탄(1,1-Dichloroethane)/ 아세토클로르(Acetochlor)/ 브롬화메틸(Methyl bromide)/ 메톨라클로르(Metolachlor)/ 니트로벤젠(Nitrobenzene)/ RDX)에 대해선 규제하지 않을 것을 제안함.

▶ EPA는 PFASs(Polyfluoroalkyl substances, 폴리플루오로알킬 물질)에 관한 정보 및 데이터를 수집하고 있다고 말하며, 물질 등급(Class)에 따라 가능한 모니터링 요건 및 규제 접근 방식에 대한 의견에 관심을 표함.

▶ 이와 같은 조치는 작년, PFASs를 더욱 잘 관리 및 억제할 목적으로 출범시킨 EPA의 PFAS 행동계획(Action Plan)하에 추진할 계획임.

▶ The EPA는 최근의 노력을 PFAS 행동계획에 있어 “핵심 단계(Key milestone")라 설명하고 PFASs를 ”적극적으로 관리(Aggressively addressing")하는 것이 EPA의 최우선순위라 언급함. 그러나 일부 민주당 의원들은 지난달의 진행 상황이 너무 더뎠다고 비판함.

▶ EPA는 공보(Federal Register)에 이를 공식 게재한 후 60일 동안 예비 결정안에 대한 의견을 수렴할 계획임.