Health Risk Limits Rules for Groundwater
Rules Amendments - PFOS Update

Introduction

In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed a session law that states:

"By July 1, 2026, the commissioner of health must amend the health risk limit for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in Minnesota Rules, part 4717.7860, subpart 15, so that the health risk limit does not exceed 0.015 parts per billion. In amending the health risk limit for PFOS, the commissioner must comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 144.0751, requiring a reasonable margin of safety to adequately protect the health of infants, children, and adults."

(Laws of Minnesota 2023, Chapter 60, Article 3, Section 34) 

In order to meet this requirement, MDH is beginning a new rulemaking for HRLs that will include updated proposed HRL values for PFOS, including a chronic duration value that will be no more than 0.015 parts per billion. In addition, MDH will include water guidance values for other water contaminants that were updated since the 2021 HRL rules update began.

A Request for Comments on Possible Amendments to Rules Governing Health Risk Limits (PDF), Minnesota Rules, Parts 4717.7500 and 4717.7860 was published in the Minnesota State Register on August 7, 2023. This comment period remained open until November 4, 2024).  

A new written comment period opened on November 4, 2024, and will remain open until December 4, 2024. Comments may be submitted on the Office of Administrative Hearing's eComments website.