| February 2022 | Volume 12 | Issue 1 |
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| PFAS Continues to Dominate Regulatory Response
BY ALLISON MACKENZIE, Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs |
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Across the nation, state and federal agencies are renewing their efforts to end the toxic legacy of per– and polyfluoroalkyl substances. 2021 saw a flurry of PFAS-related legislation and proposals from both California and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that is carrying over into 2022. To help breakdown the state and federal government’s response to widespread PFAS contamination, here is a snapshot of the latest news in the PFAS pipeline:
Governor Newsom Signs New PFAS Bills and OEHHA Lists PFOS under Prop 65
Governor Newsom signed two major PFAS bills this fall on October 5th: AB 1200 and AB 625 Under AB 1200, or the California Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act of 2021, no plant-based food packages with “intentionally added” PFAS may be sold or distributed after January 1, 2023. The law also requires cookware manufacturers to disclose if certain chemicals, including PFAS, are present in
their products. A list of disclosed chemicals must be available online by January 1, 2023 and on the physical product by January 1, 2024. The law further prohibits manufacturers from claiming their products are free of a specific chemical, like PFOA, unless the product is also free of all chemicals in that class.
A similar bill, AB 652, prohibits the sale or distribution of any new products that contain PFAS and are designed for children under 12 years old. The products affected by AB 652 include baby blankets, cribs, car seats, playpens, and highchairs. The new law, which goes into effect on July 1, 2023, does not include any...
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| Looking Beyond the Pandemic: Climate Change and Drought In 2021 |
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Over the past year, the Covid-19 pandemic pulled state resources and public attention away from the looming specter of global climate change. But while our attention was fixed on vaccine rollouts and mask mandates, climate change didn’t stop impacting California’s water. 2021 heralded some unprecedented water
challenges for districts across the state. Now more than ever, we need to talk about climate change and the role it plays in California’s droughts.
It is well established that California’s droughts are becoming more common and more severe. The past year was one of the driest in a century; crucial reservoirs like Lake Mead have dropped to record lows; and many communities continue to over-draft groundwater aquifers to keep up with demand. In October, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide drought emergency and asked Californians to “redouble our efforts to save water in every way possible.” For many, the sight of depleted reservoirs and bone-dry wells looks eerily similar to the height of California’s last major drought––which only officially ended 2 years ago.
So what is happening to California’s droughts... read more
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| A Quick Year in Review: 2021 |
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| 2022 is here and we are all excited to see what this year will bring. But before we dive into new discussions, developments, and events, we would like to reflect on some important industry news that broke last year. Looking back at the unique challenges and topics of 2021 may help predict how our industry will change as we progress through the new year.
January: The Delta Conveyance Project
At the start of 2021, the Metropolitan Board of Directors approved funding for the Delta Conveyance Project––a state initiative for building modern and resilient water infrastructure in the critical Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Delta is the hub of California’s water supplies and provides affordable, high-quality water to over 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. But this critical juncture is vulnerable to many mounting dangers, including large earthquakes, rising sea levels, and the effects of climate change. Despite the need for updated water infrastructure, past iterations of the Delta Conveyance Project failed because of environmental concerns and a hefty price tag. The current project is undergoing an Environmental Impact Review that will be available
to the public sometime this year. The Metropolitan Board voted unanimously to... read more
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Stormwater Preparedness: Are You Ready for Stormwater Season? (read more)
"Quality Through Collaboration": ELAP Hosts Inaugural Conference (read more)
An Ounce of Preparation Wise for Stormwater Monitoring Season In Spite of Likely La Nina Weather (read more)
Babcock Laboratories' El Centro New Microbiology Lab! (read more)
State Accredited Bacteriological Testing with a Reputable Lab in El Centro! (read more)
Jeff Kightlinger Reflects of California's Future Water Challenges (read more)
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Babcock Labs is fully approved by the USEPA to perform all UCMR 5 analyses. Our experience with the program and our expert staff makes Babcock Labs an excellent resource for UCMR 5 questions and testing services. Whether you have questions about program requirements, are looking for a quote or to begin the planning process, or are interested in sample collection, analysis, and reporting services - we are here to help! (learn more)
Babcock Labs is CA ELAP accredited to perform all 18 analytes for EPA Method 537.1 and all 38 analytes under the DoD QSM 5.3. Also offered at Babcock Labs is EPA Method 533 for short-chain PFAs analytes. ( learn more)
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| Scott Dallas
Business Development Associate
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Cathy Iijima
Client Relations Manager
951-653-3351 x 135
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| Please note that Babcock Labs strictly adheres to sample acceptance criteria, pursuant to Standard Methods, EPA Methods, and regulatory requirements.
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