Clean Water For Military Families Act

Bill: 117-s-1970
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced: 2021-06-08
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Environmental health

Government studies and investigations

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Military facilities and property

National Guard and reserves

Pollution liability

Water quality

Water use and supply
Latest action: action_date: 2021-06-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3989)

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-06-08
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Clean Water For Military Families Act</strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1970 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 8, 2021 Mr. Padilla (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Van Hollen , Ms. Warren , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Booker , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Markey , Mr. Schumer , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Durbin , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Peters , and Ms. Hassan ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Clean Water For Military Families Act . 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 ).