Pappas and Gillibrand Introduce Legislation Address PFAS Contamination and Hold Polluters Accountable

Press Release

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced their plan to introduce the bicameral Clean Water Standards for PFAS 2.0 Act, which would further regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by setting deadlines for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop water quality criteria and limits on industrial PFAS discharges into water and to water treatment plants.

Pappas introduced a previous version of this legislation last year which was praised by local advocates. Last summer, the House voted to pass the PFAS Action Act of 2021, a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to limit the impacts of PFAS contamination on our communities and our environment which contained provisions introduced by Congressman Pappas based on his Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act.

"The dangers posed by forever chemicals such as PFAS is one of the most pressing environmental and public health issues facing us today," said Congressman Chris Pappas. "Despite knowing about the dangers they've posed since at least 1998, the EPA has still failed to take meaningful action to keep these toxic, "forever chemicals' out of our water. No industry should be given a free pass to poison our water, and no family should ever have to wonder whether their drinking water is safe when they turn on the tap. The Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act will finally take action to hold polluters accountable, establish proactive limits for PFAS, set water quality criteria, and support communities with contaminated water. I am proud to re-introduce this legislation today, and will keep fighting to protect our water until it is enacted into law."

"It is unacceptable that not just across New York State, but in every state across the country, communities have had their water supplies needlessly polluted by toxic PFAS chemicals," said Senator Gillibrand. "I am proud to introduce the Clean Water Standards for PFAS 2.0 Act along with Representative Pappas, which would help prevent polluters from contaminating our waterways and improve access to clean, safe drinking water for everyone, regardless of zip code."

The bill includes nine priority industry categories to further expand on current EPA standards. These priority industry categories include: Organic Chemicals, Plastics and Synthetic Fibers (OCPSF); pulp, paper, and paperboard; textile mills; electroplating; metal finishing; leather tanning and finishing; paint formulating; electrical and electrical components; and plastics molding and forming.

The bill would also authorize $200 million per year in grants to assist Publicly Owned Treatment Works with program implementation, which would be appropriated through Fiscal Years 2022-2026.

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