New York DEC to host virtual meeting series on PFAS

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is hosting an upcoming virtual meeting series to educate and assist communities in addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The webinar series, which runs Jan. 27 through Feb. 11, 2026, will focus on the DEC’s PFAS Rural Background study, treatment of landfill leachate, wastewater treatment guidance, sampling of PFAS in biosolids and drinking water policy.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2026 State of the State directed the DEC to develop draft regulations to instruct landfills to treat leachate for harmful contaminants at the source and provide funding for local governments to comply. The DEC says it is actively drafting these regulations and will provide funding for locale compliance.

In December 2025, the DEC issued a suite of actions and resources to educate and assist New York communities in addressing PFAS contamination. This includes:

• a new progress report detailing the state’s leadership in addressing PFAS;
• releasing a new study detailing the widespread presence of PFAS;
• finalizing wastewater treatment plant;
• proposing new policies directing the DEC’s actions in PFAS investigations and sampling of biosolids products; and
• launching a new webpage.

Details for each meeting are below.    

Webinars on the Proposed Rulemaking for Regulating Treatment of Landfill Leachate  

• Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2 p.m.

Virtual Public Information Session: A Decade of Progress on PFAS and Beyond 

• Thursday, Jan. 29, 2 p.m.

Webinar on PFAS in Biosolids: PFAS in Biosolids - NYS Regulatory Update Stakeholder Meeting 

• Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1 p.m.

“Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State outlined a number of key priorities for protecting New York’s environment, including the development of new regulations to address PFAS contamination and protect New York communities,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton says. “Public input is critical to the success of the state’s ongoing progress, and we encourage New Yorkers to participate in upcoming opportunities to help guide these important efforts forward.”