PFAS Pulse Podcast

PFAS rules from the EPA have been getting a lot of attention, as the Trump administration looks to make controversial adjustments. One recent rule change effected drinking water, but crucially, only impacted publicly owned municipal drinking water systems. HRP’s Bryan Massa, LSP, Regional Office manager for HRP Massachusetts, and PFAS expert, has worked closely with exactly the type of drinking water utilities that will have to be incompliance with these agency rules. For today’s episode of the PFAS Pulse Podcast, Bryan will walk us through the rules as they’ve stood and explain the nuances and complexities that come with utilities remaining in compliance. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

Join hosts Tom Simmons and Matthew Wallace as we talk the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's newly released Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids. We begin by explaining what biosolids are, why they can contain PFOA and PFOS—the two most historically used and commonly detected PFAS chemicals in the United States—and why these contaminants have become a growing concern. While the EPA's new guidance offers recommendations for testing, monitoring, and reducing risk, it's important to note that the guidance is entirely voluntary. We also explore how states are taking their own approaches to regulating PFAS in biosolids. Finally, we examine the practical challenges facing wastewater treatment plants if biosolids can no longer be land applied Join us as we unpack the latest EPA guidance, the growing patchwork of state regulations, and what comes next for biosolids management in the evolving world of PFAS. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

We're hearing more and more that folks want to know what all these acronyms stand for. We're going to take a few moments to get back to basics and explore the meaning of these acronyms and learn a few fun facts along the way! Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

The Trump administration is rescinding the drinking water regulations for four PFAS chemicals and extending the compliance deadline for the remaining two. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

EPA has pushed back the TSCA reporting rule yet again! The submission period for the PFAS Reporting Rule will begin on January 31, 2027, or 60 days following the effective date of a forthcoming final rule on the substantive requirements of the PFAS Reporting Rule, whichever is earlier. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

HRP's Jackie Baxley joins us to talk about the new PFAS chemical added to the Toxic Release Inventory. We've got what you need to know. Upcoming webinar: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

Our friends, Joel Eagle and Heather Richardson, both Partners at Thompson Hine, join HRP's Dan Titus and Mark Wright to talk about the intersection of PFAS and Brownfields. Our wide-ranging conversation covered the liability concerns of Brownfield owners, legal defenses, best practices for consultant's like HRP, and more! Thompson Hine, LLP: Professionals | Thompson Hine LLP Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

Join us as we breakdown the disqualifications of several winter Olympians at the 2026 games, due to PFAS. We’ll talk about where the PFAS came from, the rules around it, and the testing conducted to determine its source. You can find links to the articles discussed on HRP’s PFAS Pulse. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

Here are your PFAS headlines from across the USA! In New Jersey we have a new ban on PFAS products! Next up is the Great Lakes region and the state of Wisconsin. We’ve seen a big fight over PFAS in particular in Wisconsin, where state lawmakers are trying to figure out how and where to set their PFAS limits. We’ve got even more happening in the state as we turn now to the small town of Stella where residents have been dealing with the fallout of contamination from a paper mill. Jumping over now to North Carolina where a study done across the state found PFAS concentrations above federal limits. Hosts Tom Simmons and Matthew Wallace are here to break it down. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

Join HRP's Tom Simmons and Mattew Wallace as we walk through submitting a public comment on regulations.gov. The public comment period accompanies any new rule or proposed change in rule. It's an opportunity for the general public to speak on these rules and have their voices entered into the record. Check our YouTube channel to see what we're talking about! Our YouTube Video Regulations.gov - This is the main site to submit to. Commenting on EPA Dockets | US EPA - This site lists how to properly write a comment. About EPA Dockets | US EPA Where to Send Comments for EPA Dockets | US EPA - This lists how to send physical letters as comments Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

The state of Maine has been a leader on the PFAS issue, but it’s also one beset by unique challenges. On this episode, hosts Tom Simmons and Matthew Wallace talk about the big problem Maine is facing, biosolid sludge. Wastewater treatment facilities produce a biosolid byproduct. For decades, this sludge was repurposed as fertilizer, but since treatment facilities still cannot deal with PFAS, the sludge moved the PFAS from the fertilizer, into the soil, the groundwater, the crops and animals, and ultimately, the people of Maine. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

Hosts Matthew Wallace and Tom Simmons talk about the EPA's new proposed rule change to how TSCA looks at PFAS. While the rule change is only "Purposed" its ramifications could be far reaching. Regardless, another delay in reporting is certain. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

We spoke with Brooke Casella a content creator here at HRP about PFAS in biosolids and the impact that has on the agriculture business. Brooke discusses the EPA's recent draft risk assessment and breaks down thoughts from critics. You can read the full article here: The Evolving Regulatory Landscape of PFAS and Biosolids in Agriculture | Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. - JDSupra Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

In this episode of the PFAS Pulse Podcast, Host Tom Simmons and Matthew Wallace are joined by HRP's Sam Muller, to discuss a recent study, which demonstrated that PFAS are far more acidic than previously thought. What does that mean? We'll break it down! Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

In this series, HRP's Brooke Casella is asking, what is PFAS? HRP's PFAS experts will each share their perspective on the question, answering not only, what is PFAS, but what does PFAS mean in the specific context and discipline where they operate. On the first episode, Tom Simmons, head of content for HRP Associates, and host of this podcast, share's his perspective. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

We spoke with Laurel Pickard a senior project engineer here at HRP about PFAS in wastewater and the impact that has on wetlands. Her project experience includes a variety of environmental compliance, site investigation and remediation work, including commercial, industrial, academic and residential sites. Laurel’s diverse project experience includes environmental compliance in air, wastewater and hazardous waste in manufacturing facilities as well as academic institutions and hospitals. You can read the full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/18/pfas-wetlands-wasterwater-effluent Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

We spoke with Greg Ackerson from Apex Water Solutions on their onsite leachate treatment technology. The WARP system promises to remove 100% of PFAS. We get the details from Greg on how this system works. Greg is a facility and technology expert who strives to improve his client’s-built environments as well as their operational efficiencies. He specializes in working with both public and private sector clients to improve the health and safety of their built environment as well as improving their operational efficiencies. You can check out The Apex Companies here: https://apex-co.us/ Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

Co-host Matthew Wallace just completed his first PFAS sampling! Here's a breakdown of what we wanted to know from the EHS&S Professional: We thought a little breakdown of Do you do much sampling generally? Without telling us who the client was, or giving away too much, can you tell us what the facility was, what it was like? What kind of sampling was this? What was the preparation that you have to for PFAS specifically? What were the special considerations for this particular event? Things you thought about doing, changes up Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

Join hosts Tom Simmons and Matthew Wallace, joined by HRP's EHS&S Practice Leader, Jackie Baxley, as we break down the new deadline for PFAS TSCA reporting. EPA announced an interim final rule which extended the dates of the reporting period for data submissions for the TSCA PFAS reporting rule. Submissions are now due by October 13, 2026, for most manufacturers. Small businesses reporting data solely on importing PFAS contained in articles have until April 13, 2027, to submit reports. This rule provides much needed time for the regulated community to assess its manufacturing (including import) from 2011 to 2022 relative to PFAS. Prior to this rule being published, the reporting period was set to open this July with reports due January 11, 2026. For more information on this rule, refer to HRP’s webinar presented February 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNalxzfPxog Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

Join hosts Tom Simmons and Matthew Wallace as we talk to Jonathan Thorn, Technical Director and PFAS Practice Leader, at Eurofins, as debunk the biggest myths and misconceptions around PFAS from the perspective of the lab. Jonathan Thorn has worked in the field of environmental analytical chemistry for over 28 years. For the last eight years, his primary focus has been the analysis of PFAS in environmental samples, focusing on development and implementation of analytical methods in difficult matrices, including ground water, wastewater, landfill leachate, sediment, soil, biosolids, environmental tissues, agricultural products, and animal blood. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.