Bill Summary
The PFAS Detection Act of 2019 is a bill that requires the Director of the United States Geological Survey to conduct a nationwide survey of perfluorinated compounds - man-made chemicals containing fully fluorinated carbon atoms. The Director must establish a performance standard for detecting these compounds and emphasize methods that are as sensitive as possible. The Director will also work with the Environmental Protection Agency and other regulatory agencies to gather and use data on exposure and potential health and environmental impacts of these compounds. The bill also authorizes funds for this survey for the next five years.
Possible Impacts
1) The PFAS Detection Act of 2019 could affect people by potentially increasing their exposure to harmful chemicals, as the bill requires nationwide sampling to determine the concentration of perfluorinated compounds in various sources of drinking water and ecological exposures.
2) The bill could also affect people by potentially increasing their health risks, as the data gathered from the nationwide sampling will be used to inform and enhance assessments of exposure and likely health impacts.
3) The bill could also potentially affect people by increasing the cost of living, as the Director will be authorized to use up to $10,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 through 2024 to carry out the Act, which may result in increased taxes or fees for the public.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1976 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1976
To require the Director of the United States Geological Survey to
perform a nationwide survey of perfluorinated compounds, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 28, 2019
Mr. Kildee (for himself, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of
Pennsylvania, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Dean, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Huffman, Mr.
Pappas, Ms. Stevens, Mr. Welch, Ms. Slotkin, Mrs. Lawrence, Mr. Sean
Patrick Maloney of New York, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Delgado, Mr. Khanna, Mr.
Levin of Michigan, and Ms. Tlaib) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Director of the United States Geological Survey to
perform a nationwide survey of perfluorinated compounds, 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 ``PFAS Detection Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the United States Geological Survey.
(3) Perfluorinated compound.--
(A) In general.--The term ``perfluorinated
compound'' means a perfluoroalkyl substance or a
polyfluoroalkyl substance that is manmade with at least
1 fully fluorinated carbon atom.
(B) Definitions.--In this definition:
(i) Fully fluorinated carbon atom.--The
term ``fully fluorinated carbon atom'' means a
carbon atom on which all the hydrogen
substituents have been replaced by fluorine.
(ii) Non-fluorinated carbon atom.--The term
``nonfluorinated carbon atom'' means a carbon
atom on which no hydrogen substituents have
been replaced by fluorine.
(iii) Partially fluorinated carbon atom.--
The term ``partially fluorinated carbon atom''
means a carbon atom on which some, but not all,
of the hydrogen substituents have been replaced
by fluorine.
(iv) Perfluoroalkyl substance.--The term
``perfluoroalkyl substance'' means a manmade
chemical of which all of the carbon atoms are
fully fluorinated carbon atoms.
(v) Polyfluoroalkyl substance.--The term
``polyfluoroalkyl substance'' means a manmade
chemical containing a mix of fully fluorinated
carbon atoms, partially fluorinated carbon
atoms, and nonfluorinated carbon atoms.
SEC. 3. PERFORMANCE STANDARD FOR THE DETECTION OF PERFLUORINATED
COMPOUNDS.
(a) In General.--The Director shall establish a performance
standard for the detection of perfluorinated compounds.
(b) Emphasis.--
(1) In general.--In developing the performance standard
under subsection (a), the Director shall emphasize the ability
to detect as many perfluorinated compounds present in the
environment as possible using analytical methods that are as
sensitive as is feasible and practicable.
(2) Requirement.--In developing the performance standard
under subsection (a), the Director may--
(A) develop quality assurance and quality control
measures to ensure accurate sampling and testing;
(B) develop a training program with respect to the
appropriate method of sample collection and analysis of
perfluorinated compounds; and
(C) coordinate as necessary with the Administrator
to develop methods to detect individual and different
perfluorinated compounds simultaneously.
SEC. 4. NATIONWIDE SAMPLING.
(a) In General.--The Director shall carry out a nationwide sampling
to determine the concentration of perfluorinated compounds in
estuaries, lakes, streams, springs, wells, wetlands, rivers, aquifers,
and soil using the performance standard developed under section 3(a).
(b) Requirements.--In carrying out the sampling under subsection
(a), the Director shall--
(1) first carry out the sampling at sources of drinking
water near locations with known or suspected releases of
perfluorinated compounds;
(2) when carrying out sampling of sources of drinking water
under paragraph (1), carry out the sampling prior to any
treatment of the water;
(3) survey for ecological exposure to perfluorinated
compounds, with a priority in determining direct human exposure
through drinking water; and
(4) consult with--
(A) States to determine areas that are a priority
for sampling; and
(B) the Administrator--
(i) to enhance coverage of the sampling;
and
(ii) to avoid unnecessary duplication.
(c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of the
sampling under subsection (a), the Director shall prepare a report
describing the results of the sampling and submit the report to--
(1) the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives;
(3) the Senators of each State in which the Director
carried out the sampling; and
(4) each Member of the House of Representatives that
represents a district in which the Director carried out the
sampling.
SEC. 5. DATA USAGE.
(a) In General.--The Director shall provide the sampling data
collected under section 4 to--
(1) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency; and
(2) other Federal and State regulatory agencies on request.
(b) Usage.--The sampling data provided under subsection (a) shall
be used to inform and enhance assessments of exposure, likely health
and environmental impacts, and remediation priorities.
SEC. 6. COLLABORATION.
In carrying out this Act, the Director shall collaborate with--
(1) appropriate Federal and State regulators;
(2) institutions of higher education;
(3) research institutions; and
(4) other expert stakeholders.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry
out this Act--
(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
(2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024.
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