Pennsylvania approves revised soil cleanup standards for lead and other contaminants; rule awaits publication
The rule sets a 5 micrograms-per-deciliter default blood-lead target and changes how carcinogenic PAHs are calculated; it takes effect on Bulletin publication, which DEP's October 1 update does not yet show.
On August 20, 2026, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission ("IRRC") approved a final-form rulemaking of the Environmental Quality Board ("EQB"), IRRC Regulation No. 7-575, "Administration of the Land Recycling Program", which amends 25 Pa. Code Chapter 250 (the Act 2 cleanup standards). The rule updates medium-specific concentrations ("MSCs"), changes the models used to derive soil lead MSCs, changes how carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ("PAHs") are calculated, and adds PFAS compounds. It takes effect on publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin; IRRC's regulation page lists "Published as Final" as not applicable so far, and DEP's regulatory update dated October 1, 2026 still lists the rule at IRRC approval.
IRRC Reg. No. 7-575; 25 Pa. Code Ch. 250; 35 P.S. §§ 6026.104(a), 6026.303(a)