Guidance for managing PFAS in SA

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are manufactured chemicals that have been used in a range of industrial and consumer products since the 1950s. PFAS are of concern around the world because they do not naturally degrade, can bioaccumulate in our food and can travel long distances through groundwater.

Australia’s Environment Ministers endorsed the country’s first PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) in January 2018. The plan provides governments with a consistent, practical, risk-based framework for the environmental regulation of PFAS-contaminated materials and sites. The PFAS NEMP 3.0 was agreed to by Commonwealth, state and territory environment ministers in December 2024 and released on 4 March 2025.

The PFAS NEMP provides valuable guidance around storage, reuse and disposal of contaminated material to facilitate proactive decision-making for the management of sites impacted by PFAS. The South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has developed the following two guidelines consistent with the NEMP:

In July 2023, the EPA issued the draft PFAS in waste soils guideline as the PFAS in waste soils interim guideline, after a targeted industry consultation. This guideline may be used until the Environment Protection Regulations 2023 have been updated to address PFAS.

For information on the consultation please contact:

  • Phone: (08) 8124 4216
  • Email

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are manufactured chemicals that have been used in a range of industrial and consumer products since the 1950s. PFAS are of concern around the world because they do not naturally degrade, can bioaccumulate in our food and can travel long distances through groundwater.

Australia’s Environment Ministers endorsed the country’s first PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) in January 2018. The plan provides governments with a consistent, practical, risk-based framework for the environmental regulation of PFAS-contaminated materials and sites. The PFAS NEMP 3.0 was agreed to by Commonwealth, state and territory environment ministers in December 2024 and released on 4 March 2025.

The PFAS NEMP provides valuable guidance around storage, reuse and disposal of contaminated material to facilitate proactive decision-making for the management of sites impacted by PFAS. The South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has developed the following two guidelines consistent with the NEMP:

In July 2023, the EPA issued the draft PFAS in waste soils guideline as the PFAS in waste soils interim guideline, after a targeted industry consultation. This guideline may be used until the Environment Protection Regulations 2023 have been updated to address PFAS.

For information on the consultation please contact:

  • Phone: (08) 8124 4216
  • Email

  • Online submission form

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    You are invited to:

    1. Review the draft documents and provide us with your feedback including about specific implications for you, your business, or your sector. Feedback can be provided to us by email or by clicking the link below. 
    2. Register for one of the online information sessions if you would like to hear more from us and speak with us in person.

    Alternatively, you also provide feedback via our survey forms on this page.

    Comments and submissions would be appreciated by 1 March 2023.

    Your feedback
Page last updated: 04 Mar 2025, 01:41 PM