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NSW Government
Chief Scientist & Engineer

NSW PFAS Expert Panel

Introduction

In June 2017, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Chair and CEO wrote to the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, then Professor Mary O'Kane AC, requesting that the Williamtown Contamination Expert Panel be transitioned to the NSW PFAS Expert Panel to provide ongoing high level advice on PFAS-related matters.

As with the previous Williamtown Contamination Expert Panel, the NSW PFAS Expert Panel (the Expert Panel) is led by the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer and is comprised of a range of technical experts in contamination and health. It also includes senior representatives from the EPA, NSW Health, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the Hunter Water Corporation.

The Expert Panel is called upon as necessary to provide scientific advice to the EPA and other NSW Government agencies on how to manage contaminated sites across New South Wales.

The Expert Panel works in partnership and consult regularly with stakeholders to ensure affected communities remain informed and updated.

Terms of Reference

1.   Purpose

PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) comprise a group of manufactured chemicals that includes perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS).

PFAS are stable chemicals that bioaccumulate, do not easily break down, and can persist for a long time in the environment. PFAS chemicals are an emerging contaminant, with international research yet to fully determine health effects related to exposure but where effects are biologically feasible. They are being progressively phased out around the world.

The NSW PFAS Expert Panel has been established under Part 6 of the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 for the purpose of providing informed advice to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to assist in developing the NSW Government’s response to PFAS issues, including contamination.

The Expert Panel will take a strategic approach and interface with the PFAS National Framework, including the PFAS Intergovernmental Agreement and the National Environmental Management Plan.

The Expert Panel will provide advice to the EPA and other NSW agencies to inform strategic decisions they may need to make to protect the community and the environment.

To support the Expert Panel, the EPA has constituted the NSW Technical Advisory Group (TAG). The TAG consists of government and independent technical experts who provide operational and technical support with managing PFAS contaminated sites within NSW. The role of TAG will include providing evidence-based advice (e.g precautionary dietary advice) to assist with the management specific sites where contamination may be present.

The Expert Panel will draw on expertise from others from time to time, as agreed by the Chair.

2.   Functions and Role of the Expert Panel

The functions of the NSW PFAS Expert Panel are to:

  1. To provide strategic direction for managing PFAS contamination from identified sites and advise the EPA, TAG and other agencies on potential approaches for minimising exposure to PFAS from contaminated sites.
  2. To provide guidance to the TAG on the operational management of PFAS contaminated sites to ensure a consistent approach is taken and risk management approaches is evidence based.
  3. Provide advice to the EPA on whether and what additional investigations or studies are needed to assist in refining risk assessment and management measures related to PFAS contamination.
  4. Review and provide advice on proposed and emerging containment and remediation strategies to address migration of contamination.
  5. Provide a source of informed expert advice to the EPA on guidance, communication and engagement with affected local community and relevant stakeholders.
  6. Advise the EPA on the implications and implementation of emerging international and national technologies, advice, approaches and frameworks to manage PFAS contamination, including the PFAS National Environment Management Plan (NEMP).
  7. To provide advice on other issues relating to PFAS chemicals that may be sought from time to time

Further Information

Contact

For more information please contact: