Announcement of the Carcinogen Identification Committee Meeting Scheduled for December 6, 2021; Notice of Availability of Hazard Identification Materials for Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) and Its Salts and Transformation and Degradation Precursors

The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) will convene a meeting of the Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) for possible listing of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its salts and transformation and degradation precursors under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65)^[1]. OEHHA is also opening a 45-day public comment period on the hazard identification document for these chemicals. The public comment period will end on Monday, November 8, 2021. A copy of the document is available on OEHHA’s web site at https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65. The document may also be requested from OEHHA’s Proposition 65 Implementation Office by calling (916) 445-6900.

Background

OEHHA is the lead agency for implementation of Proposition 65. The CIC advises and assists OEHHA in compiling the list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer as required by Proposition 65 ^[2]. The CIC serves as the state’s qualified experts for determining whether a chemical has been clearly shown through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles to cause cancer.

A request for relevant information on the potential carcinogenicity of these chemicals opened on March 26, 2021 and closed on May 10, 2021. One submission was received from the 3M Company. It is posted on the OEHHA website^[3]. OEHHA considered this submission in preparing the hazard identification document. 

Public Meeting and Public Comment Period

PFOS and its salts and transformation and degradation precursors will be considered for possible listing under Proposition 65 at a public meeting scheduled for Monday, December 6, 2021. The meeting, which will be held virtually, will begin at 10:00 a.m. and last until all business is conducted or until 5:00 p.m. The agenda for the meeting and instructions on how to participate will be provided in a future public notice published in advance of the meeting.

The public may provide oral comments at the meeting on December 6, 2021. These comments will be limited to five minutes per commenter, except for those commenters who make a request by November 8, 2021, and receive approval from the Chair of the CIC for longer comments. Please submit a request for additional time, with an estimate of the time you will need and the reason you are requesting additional time, to P65Public.Comments@oehha.ca.gov or call the Proposition 65 Implementation Office at (916) 445‑6900 by November 8, 2021.  

OEHHA must receive written comments no later than November 8, 2021, the designated close of the written comment period, and strongly recommends that information be submitted electronically, rather than in paper form. Comments may be submitted electronically through our website at https://oehha.ca.gov/comments. All timely filed public comments will be provided to CIC members in advance of the meeting and will be posted on the OEHHA website at the close of the comment period. Comments submitted in paper form can be mailed or delivered in person to the address below. 

All non-electronic submissions should be directed to:

Tyler Saechao
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
1001 I Street
P. O. Box 4010, MS-12B
Sacramento, California 95812-4010

Telephone: 916-445-6900
Fax:  916-323-2265

OEHHA is subject to the California Public Records Act and other laws that require the release of certain information upon request. If you provide comments, please be aware that your name, address, and e-mail may be available to third parties.

If you have any questions, please contact Tyler Saechao at Tyler.Saechao@OEHHA.ca.gov or (916) 445-6900.