EPW PLAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), today voted to advance an expanded version of legislation she introduced last month to address the risks and challenges associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The committee approved the bill, the PFAS Release Disclosure and Protection Act, by voice vote.

“This will hold emitters to account, provide more transparency, and ensure federal agencies and public can respond to emissions,” said Senator Capito during the hearing. “It is regrettable to me that the EPA has been dragging its feet on this issue, to the extent that Congress is compelled to act. But ensuring the public’s faith in their drinking water is vitally important.” 


The compromise legislation considered by the committee today—which Senators Capito and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) introduced with EPW Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-Del.)—is based on the PFAS Release Disclosure Act (S. 1507), a bill that would provide a clear process for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify and share with the public and policymakers sources of PFAS emissions around the country, while respecting the formal rulemaking processes and scientific approach.

It also includes additional measures that would:

  • Set a national primary drinking water regulation for PFAS based at a minimum on PFOA and PFOS under the Safe Drinking Water Act and provide financial assistance to rural systems to reduce PFAS in drinking water.
  • Issue a section 8(a) data call to PFAS manufacturers under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
  • Finalize its 2015 Significant New Use Rule on long-chain PFAS under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
  • Issue guidance on how to dispose of and destroy PFAS.

 

Senators Capito and Carper, along with EPW Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), were also successful in attaching the substitute legislation as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA), which the Senate is expected to begin considering this week.

For a copy of legislative text, click here. 

For a video of Senator Capito’s remarks at today’s markup, click here.

 

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