PFAS Act

To direct the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with other agencies, to develop guidance for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on best practices to protect such personnel from exposure to PFAS and to limit and prevent the release of PFAS into the environment, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances Act PFAS Act 2. Guidance on preventing exposure to and release of PFAS (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the heads of any other relevant agencies, shall— (1) make available a curriculum designed to— (A) reduce and eliminate exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (hereinafter referred to as PFAS (B) prevent the release of PFAS from firefighting foam into the environment; and (C) educate firefighters and other emergency response personnel on foams and non-foam alternatives, personal protective equipment, and other firefighting tools and equipment that do not contain PFAS; (2) develop and publish guidance for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on training, education programs, and best practices on the information described in paragraph (1); and (3) create an online public repository, and update such repository on a regular basis, containing tools and best practices for firefighters and other emergency response personnel to reduce, limit, and prevent the release of and exposure to PFAS. (b) Curriculum (1) In general In developing the curriculum required under subsection (a)(1), the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall make recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security on the content of the curriculum. (2) Consultation For the purpose of making recommendations under paragraph (1), the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall consult with interested entities, as appropriate, including— (A) firefighters and other emergency response personnel, including national fire service and emergency response organizations; (B) impacted communities dealing with PFAS contamination; (C) scientists, including public and occupational health and safety experts, who are studying PFAS and PFAS alternatives in firefighting foam; (D) voluntary standards organizations engaged in developing standards for firefighter and firefighting equipment; (E) State fire training academies; (F) State fire marshals; (G) manufacturers of firefighting tools and equipment; and (H) any other relevant entities, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration. (c) Review Not later than 3 years after the date on which the guidance and curriculum required under subsection (a) is issued, and not less frequently than once every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall review the guidance and curriculum and, as appropriate, issue updates to the guidance and curriculum. (d) Applicability of FACA The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to this Act. (e) Rule of construction Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to promulgate or enforce regulations under subchapter II of chapter 5 Administrative Procedure Act

Summary: Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances Act or the PFAS Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop guidance for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on training, education programs, and best practices to protect them from exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFASs, from firefighting foam and to prevent the release of PFASs into the environment. These substances are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. DHS shall make available a curriculum designed to reduce and eliminate exposure to PFAS from firefighting foam and personal protective equipment (PPE); prevent the release of PFAS from firefighting foam into the environment; and educate firefighters and other emergency response personnel on foams and non-foam alternatives, PPE, and other firefighting tools and equipment that do not contain PFAS. The U.S. Fire Administration shall make recommendations to DHS on the content of the curriculum. DHS must create an online public repository containing tools and best practices to reduce, limit, and prevent the release of and exposure to PFASs.