PFAS & Geosynthetics Update: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released their mandated PFOA and PFOS Diffusion through LLDPE and LLDPE Coextruded with EVOH at 22℃, 35℃, and 50℃ . This document is open for public comment until February 22, 2021. It details three current techniques for abatement of PFAS in the environment including: thermal (burning), landfilling and underground injection for PFAS in aqueous form. The paper discusses that while uncertainties remain in the efficacy of these three technologies in the migration of PFAS within the environment; the guidance is currently meant to equip decision makers with information regarding the existing options of PFAS destruction and disposal. Specific to the geosynthetic industry is the discussion of PFAS and PFAS-containing materials disposal via landfills.

Presently, the main issue regarding PFAS contamination within the geosynthetics industry is identifying the best types of materials for containment. In many cases, PFAS contaminated soils are being contained on-site by using rain-shedding techniques employed elsewhere in the pollution mitigation industry. By installing a geosynthetic barrier over the PFAS contaminated soils, also known as “capping”, precipitation is kept from infiltrating and percolating through the area. This protection keeps the water-soluble PFAS from migrating via percolating precipitation offsite, effectively capturing it in-place. Determining how PFAS will interact with the geomembranes and geosynthetic composite barriers used in these techniques is of utmost importance to ensure PFAS will not penetrate through and continue to contaminate into the future.