PFAS Drinking Water Act

Bill: 116-hr-2533
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]
Introduced: 2019-05-07
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Environmental regulatory procedures

Environmental technology

Government information and archives

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Water quality
Latest action: action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-05-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Providing Financial Assistance for Safe Drinking Water Act or the PFAS Drinking Water Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a program that awards grants to community water systems&nbsp;for the costs associated with technologies that remove perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, from drinking water. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2533 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 7, 2019 Mr. Pallone introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To assist community water systems affected by PFAS contamination, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Providing Financial Assistance for Safe Drinking Water Act or the PFAS Drinking Water Act . 2. Establishment of PFAS Infrastructure Grant Program Part E of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1459E. Assistance for community water systems affected by PFAS (a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish a program to award grants to affected community water systems to pay for capital costs associated with the implementation of eligible treatment technologies. (b) Applications (1) Guidance Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall publish guidance describing the form and timing for community water systems to apply for grants under this section. (2) Required information The Administrator shall require a community water system applying for a grant under this section to submit— (A) information showing the presence of PFAS in water of the community water system; and (B) a certification that the treatment technology in use by the community water system at the time of application is not sufficient to remove all detectable amounts of PFAS. (c) List of eligible treatment technologies Not later than 150 days after the date of enactment of this section, and every two years thereafter, the Administrator shall publish a list of treatment technologies that the Administrator determines are effective at removing all detectable amounts of PFAS from drinking water. (d) Priority for funding In awarding grants under this section, the Administrator shall prioritize affected community water systems that— (1) serve a disadvantaged community; (2) will provide at least a 10-percent cost share for the cost of implementing an eligible treatment technology; or (3) demonstrate the capacity to maintain the eligible treatment technology to be implemented using the grant. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not more than $500,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Affected community water system The term affected community water system means a community water system that is affected by the presence of PFAS in the water in the community water system. (2) Disadvantaged community The term disadvantaged community has the meaning given that term in section 1452. (3) Eligible treatment technology The term eligible treatment technology means a treatment technology included on the list published under subsection (c). . 3. Definition Section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300f ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (17) PFAS The term PFAS means a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. .