Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against EPA Over PFAS in Sewage Sludge Fertilizer

A federal district court in Washington, D.C. has dismissed a lawsuit accusing the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of failing to prevent farmland contamination from PFAS-tainted sewage sludge used as fertilizer. Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to compel EPA action.

The case, filed in 2024 by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and several farmer and environmental groups, alleged that millions of acres of farmland risk PFAS exposure due to the widespread land application of sewage sludge, also known as biosolids. About 60% of sludge produced annually is spread on fields, yet there are no national PFAS testing requirements.

EPA is required to review biosolids regulations every two years but has only regulated nine heavy metals since 1993, despite identifying over 700 chemicals. PEER is weighing an appeal or petition. Meanwhile, ten states have issued their own PFAS sludge guidelines.

02-10-2025