The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on draft guidance designed to help wastewater utilities, landowners and the public reduce risks from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids as part of the agency's broader strategy to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and "Make America Healthy Again."

The agency said in a news release it will accept public comments for 60 days after the draft guidance is published in the Federal Register. Comments may be submitted using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2026-2509. The Federal Register notice will include additional instructions for submitting comments.

"One of EPA’s top priorities is to Make America Healthy Again, and reducing risk from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids is a critical part of that effort," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer in a news release. "This draft guidance will provide Americans with commonsense recommendations that can protect public health, while also supporting wastewater systems and beneficial use of biosolids when appropriate."

According to the EPA, the guidance reflects a "radically transparent approach" intended to gather broad public input before determining next steps. The agency said it has already received feedback from a wide range of stakeholders and recognizes the complexity of managing biosolids contaminated with PFOA and PFOS.

After reviewing public comments, the EPA said it concluded the previous administration's draft risk assessment relied on assumptions that were too far removed from real-world conditions to provide clear and practical guidance.

The agency said commenters argued the assessment identified risks at trace concentrations near the limit of detection that were lower than levels already found in everyday soil and household products. The EPA also said commenters criticized the assessment for relying on a simplified linear risk calculation that independent scientists have questioned and for using data from atypical industrially contaminated sites while overlooking newer research from communities where household biosolids have been safely land-applied for decades.

The EPA said the draft guidance is intended to gather additional feedback while establishing a path forward to reduce exposure to PFOA and PFOS in biosolids.

The guidance recognizes concerns from farmers and ranchers who want to maintain healthy and productive land while also addressing the needs of wastewater systems that manage sewage sludge and biosolids from the communities they serve.

The draft recommends continuing the common practice of reusing biosolids through land application while reducing potential risks by avoiding applications near waterways and on land where children play. It also recommends avoiding the use of biosolids as fertilizer on crops with a higher potential for human exposure.

Biosolids are the treated solid materials left after wastewater treatment that meet requirements under the Clean Water Act for use as soil amendments or fertilizer. Although the terms "biosolids" and "sewage sludge" are often used interchangeably, the EPA generally uses "biosolids" to describe treated sewage sludge intended for land application.

Under federal regulations, biosolids may be applied to agricultural land, forests, tree farms, golf courses, turf farms and other properties. They may also be packaged and sold for use on residential lawns and home gardens. The EPA said biosolids generally are not used on specialty crops such as fresh produce and typically are applied to crops whose edible portions do not come into contact with the soil. Some states, Tribal governments and counties also have additional regulations governing the use of sewage sludge and biosolids.

PFOA and PFOS are two chemicals within the larger PFAS family. The EPA said both chemicals persist in the environment for long periods and have been linked to a variety of significant adverse health effects.

Domestic production and import of PFOA have largely been phased out in the United States by companies participating in the 2010/2015 PFOA Stewardship Program. However, the EPA said some companies outside the program may still produce, import or use PFOA and some uses of PFOS continue.

The agency said statewide surveys have detected PFOA and PFOS at varying levels in sewage sludge but emphasized that not all sewage sludge contains detectable or elevated concentrations of either chemical.