US House of Rep Passes Legislation on PFAS

On the 22nd of July 2021, the US House of Representatives passed H.R. 2467, the PFAS Action Act of 2021. This is a comprehensive framework for regulating 9,252 per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Unlike a similar bill (H.R. 535) which was never considered by the Republican-controlled Senate in the last Congress, this bill was passed by a vote of 241-183.

The bill sets requirements and incentives, in a bid to limit the use of PFAs in the environment. All PFAS are to be tested by EPA for toxicity to human health and the environment.

Furthermore, the bill provides the following:

• Designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA. They are also designated as hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
• EPA must decide within five years if the other PFAS should be labelled hazardous substances.
• Unsafe burning of PFAs wastes will be prohibited and incentives are to be provided for helping community water systems that are contaminated by PFAS.