Bill S.1504 194th (Current)

Also known as the Massachusetts PFAS Act, this bill aims to strengthen our state’s efforts to eliminate these harmful "forever chemicals" from our water, air, and consumer products. An Act to protect Massachusetts public health from PFAS proposes the following action to better protect Massachusetts residents: establishes a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund to assist municipalities, public water systems, and private well users with the cost of addressing PFAS contamination in drinking water, groundwater, and soil; directs state agencies to conduct outreach in environmental justice communities, create educational materials, and implement a public awareness campaign; defines PFAS as a class for the regulation of PFAS in food packaging and enumerated, priority consumer products; directs MassDEP to include requirements for PFAS monitoring and best management practices for the discharge of PFAS in surface water and groundwater discharge permits and to propose effluent limitations and pre-treatment standards for PFAS in groundwater; and prohibits the use of Class B firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS and requires fire departments to notify MassDEP upon the release of such foam for emergency use. This bill incorporates the policy recommendations of the interagency PFAS task force. PFAS contamination is a growing public health crisis that requires immediate action to better safeguard public health, hold polluters accountable, and ensure clean(er) water for every Massachusetts resident.