PFAS Act of 2019

Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances Act of 2019 or the PFAS Act of 2019

This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop guidance for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on training, education programs, and best practices to protect them from exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFASs, from firefighting foam and to limit or prevent the release of PFASs into the environment. These substances are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing.

FEMA shall (1) develop and issue guidance on alternative foams, personal protective equipment, and other firefighting tools and equipment that do not contain PFASs; and (2) create an online public repository on tools and best practices to reduce, limit, and prevent the release of and exposure to PFASs.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2353 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2353

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
   to develop guidance for firefighters and other emergency response 
 personnel on best practices to protect them from exposure to PFAS and 
to limit and prevent the release of PFAS into the environment, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 31, 2019

  Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Gardner, Ms. Hassan, and Mr. Sullivan) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
   to develop guidance for firefighters and other emergency response 
 personnel on best practices to protect them from exposure to PFAS and 
to limit and prevent the release of PFAS into the environment, 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 ``Protecting Firefighters from Adverse 
Substances Act of 2019'' or the ``PFAS Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO AND RELEASE OF PFAS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, in consultation with the Administrator of the United 
States Fire Administration, the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Director of the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health, and the heads of any other relevant 
agencies, shall--
            (1) develop and publish guidance for firefighters and other 
        emergency response personnel on training, education programs, 
        and best practices to--
                    (A) reduce the exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl 
                substances (commonly referred to as ``PFAS'') from 
                firefighting foam and personal protective equipment; 
                and
                    (B) limit or prevent the release of PFAS from 
                firefighting foam into the environment;
            (2) develop and issue guidance to firefighters and other 
        emergency response personnel on alternative foams, personal 
        protective equipment, and other firefighting tools and 
        equipment that do not contain PFAS; and
            (3) create an online public repository, which shall be 
        updated on a regular basis, on tools and best practices for 
        firefighters and other emergency response personnel to reduce, 
        limit, and prevent the release of and exposure to PFAS.
    (b) Required Consultation.--In developing the guidance required 
under subsection (a), the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall consult with appropriate interested entities, 
including--
            (1) firefighters and other emergency response personnel, 
        including national fire service and emergency response 
        organizations;
            (2) impacted communities dealing with PFAS contamination;
            (3) scientists, including public and occupational health 
        and safety experts, who are studying PFAS and PFAS alternatives 
        in firefighting foam;
            (4) voluntary standards organizations engaged in developing 
        standards for firefighter and firefighting equipment;
            (5) State fire training academies;
            (6) State fire marshals;
            (7) manufacturers of firefighting tools and equipment; and
            (8) any other relevant entities, as determined by the 
        Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 
        the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.
    (c) Review of Guidance.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
which the guidance required under subsection (a) is issued, and not 
less frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator 
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in consultation with the 
Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director 
of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall 
review the guidance and, as appropriate, issue updates to the guidance.
    (d) Applicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to this Act.
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