On October 1, 2019, the U.S. District Court/Southern District of New York extended the deadline by which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has to promulgate a final rule regulating the allowable level of perchlorate in drinking water. The final rule was expected sometime on or before December 19, 2019. The comment period on the draft rule, which was published in the Federal Register HERE ended on August 26, 2019. The Agency was granted an extension until June 19, 2020 to allow them ample time to consider and respond to the comments received on the draft rule. Perchlorate is a naturally occurring and man-made anion that is highly water soluble and migrates quickly from soil to groundwater. It is commonly used in solid rocket propellants, munitions, fireworks, airbag initiators for vehicles, matches, and signal flares. One of the primary pathways for human exposure is from ingestion of contaminated food and water. The substance’s acute effects include skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It has also been shown to inhibit thyroid functioning in both children and adults. In adults, the thyroid plays an important role in metabolism, making and storing hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature. In fetuses and infants, thyroid hormones are critical for normal growth and development of the central nervous system.