Clean Water For Military Families Act
Bill: S.1970 | Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex (D-CA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Clean Water For Military Families Act
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct investigations into releases of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at or surrounding DOD installations located in the United States, formerly used defense sites, and state-owned facilities of the National Guard. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects.
DOD must also conduct response actions relating to PFAS contamination at the mentioned locations if any detection of PFAS exceeds specified standards for contamination or DOD finds remediation to be appropriate to protect human health or the environment.

To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct testing for and 
remediation of perfluoroalkyl substances and polyfluoroalkyl substances 
at or surrounding installations of the Department of Defense located in 
    the United States, formerly used defense sites, and State-owned 
       facilities of the National Guard, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Clean Water For Military Families 
Act''.

SEC. 2. TESTING FOR AND REMEDIATION OF PERFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AND 
              POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall--
            (1) conduct investigations into releases of PFAS, including 
        testing for the presence of PFAS in groundwater, surface and 
        drinking water, soil, and soil vapor, at or surrounding 
        installations of the Department of Defense located in the 
        United States, formerly used defense sites, and State-owned 
        facilities of the National Guard; and
            (2) conduct response actions relating to PFAS contamination 
        at or surrounding installations of the Department located in 
        the United States, formerly used defense sites, or State-owned 
        facilities of the National Guard if--
                    (A) any detection of PFAS exceeds the standards 
                under subsection (b); or
                    (B) the Secretary finds remediation of PFAS to be 
                appropriate to protect human health or the environment.
    (b) Standards for Response Actions With Respect to PFAS 
Contamination.--In conducting response actions under subsection (a)(2) 
with respect to PFAS contamination, the Secretary shall conduct such 
actions to achieve a level of PFAS in the environmental media that 
meets or provides more protection than the most stringent of the 
following standards for PFAS in any environmental media:
            (1) A State standard as described in clause (ii) of section 
        121(d)(2)(A) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
        Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9621(d)(2)(A)).
            (2) A Federal standard as described in clause (i) of such 
        section.
            (3) A health advisory under section 1412(b)(1)(F) of the 
        Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g-1(b)(1)(F)).
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for fiscal year 2022 to the Department of Defense 
$10,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out this 
section.
    (d) Savings Clause.--Except with respect to the specific level 
required to be met under subsection (b), nothing in this section 
affects the application of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.).
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Formerly used defense site.--The term ``formerly used 
        defense site'' means any site formerly used by the Department 
        of Defense or National Guard eligible for environmental 
        restoration by the Secretary of Defense funded under the 
        ``Environmental Restoration Account, Formerly Used Defense 
        Sites'' account established under section 2703(a)(5) of title 
        10, United States Code.
            (2) PFAS.--The term ``PFAS'' means a perfluoroalkyl 
        substance or polyfluoroalkyl substance with at least one fully 
        fluorinated carbon atom.
            (3) Response action.--The term ``response action'' means an 
        action taken pursuant to section 104 of the Comprehensive 
        Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 
        U.S.C. 9604).
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