Congress Hones in on PFAS

  • by ACWA Staff
  • Aug 10, 2023
  • Water News

In late June, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) published a draft bill focused on addressing PFAS issues. Similarly, the House Armed Services Committee advanced a proposal to tackle “forever chemicals” as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2024. ACWA has been tracking regulatory and legislative developments on PFAS closely.

Congress’ focus on PFAS pollution and contamination has been encouraged by a series of rulemakings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) spanning several years, starting in 2019. Since then, EPA has moved forward with a proposed rule to set federally enforceable limits for six PFAS in drinking water; published a proposed rule to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); and released an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking input on the development of regulations pertaining to additional PFAS under CERCLA. Most recently, EPA pushed the timeline for the final CERCLA rule from Aug. 2023 to Feb. 2024.

The push for legislation to address PFAS spans a variety of issues including disposal methods, community outreach, prohibition of PFAS in certain substances like aqueous firefighting foam and cosmetics, research on the health impacts of PFAS, relief for impacts of PFAS on agriculture and protections from CERCLA liability for various sectors. The draft legislation proposed by EPW focuses on creating a deadline for EPA to set a drinking water standard, providing additional funding for research and treatment technology, setting a definition for PFAS, authorizing a new emergency response program for disadvantaged communities, as well as other provisions. As of now, the draft legislation does not include CERCLA liability protections for water and wastewater providers. A summary of the draft legislation, a section-by-section, and the full text can be found on the EPW website.

ACWA submitted comments on the EPW draft legislation and circulated an Outreach Alert to members. ACWA will continue to engage with legislators to develop and advance necessary PFAS legislation this Congress.

For questions about PFAS legislation, please contact Federal Relations Representative Jay Tanner at jayt@acwa.com. For questions about PFAS regulations, please contact Federal Relations Representative Madeline Voitier at madelinev@acwa.com.

Suggested Resources

15 RESOURCES prev next
Cross-Connection Control Toolkit

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

Comment Letter: Updated Water Measurement and Reporting Revisions

To: Courtney Tyler, Clerk to the Board, State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Updated Water Measurement and Reporting Revisions Letter […]

Priority Issues Bulletin

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

Regulatory Roundup

The following document is released each month and includes policy updates from ACWA’s Regulatory Department. Click on the below link […]

Joint Comment Letter: Request for Information – Development of a 2025 National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan

To: Faisal D’Souza, Technical Coordinator, Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Subject: Request for Information: Development of a […]

Joint Comment Letter: RFI Response and Proposal for National AI Resource Exchange (NAIREX) with Industry Partnership Framework

To: Faisal D’Souza, Technical Coordinator, Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) National Coordination Office (NCO) Subject: RFI Response […]

Federal Legislative Matrix

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2025 Spring Conference Presentations

Presentations from ACWA’s 2025 Spring Conference & Expo held May 13-15 in Monterey are available below. Please note that this […]

Comment Letter: U.S. EPA WaterSense Program

To: Kersey Manliclic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Subject:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense Program—Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2025-012 Letter: The Association of […]

Paving Standards Best Practices

The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) recognizes that all local governments would benefit from greater coordination on planned paving […]

Headwaters Videos Toolkit

ACWA has developed a suite of videos to help member agencies educate the public and lawmakers about the critical need […]

Comment Letter: Proposed Onsite Treatment and Reuse of Nonpotable Water Regulation

To: Courtney Tyler, Clerk to the Board, State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comments — Proposed Onsite Treatment and Reuse of […]

ACWA 2025 Spring Conference Committee Meeting Resources

Resources for ACWA Committee Meetings held during ACWA’s 2025 Spring Conference & Expo are available below.  UPCOMING ACWA EVENTS FLYER […]

Comment Letter: Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation/AB 1594 Amendments

To: Ms. Liane Randolph, Chair, California Air Resources Board Subject: Comment Letter: Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation/AB 1594 Amendments Letter Excerpt:  […]

Joint Comment Letter: Need for Extension of BioMAT Program

To: The Honorable Gavin Newsom Subject: Need for Extension of BioMAT Program Letter Excerpt: We are writing on behalf of […]

Suggested News

15 Articles prev next
Regulation on State, Local Fleets Still in Effect

President Donald Trump signed three measures on June 12 to block California’s Clean Air Act Waivers to administer California Air […]

MWDOC Scouts Clinics Educate Orange County Youth and Their Families

The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) hosted four water education clinics that taught more than 100 Orange County […]

Trump Administration Releases Detailed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On May 30, 2025, the Trump administration released a supplemental appendix to its Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal. The […]

New Member Resources Available

Members can access two new resources developed through the ACWA Local Government Committee. A “Paving Standards Best Practices” describes the […]

San Gorgonio Pass Cutting Ribbon on New Heli-Hydrant

CABAZON — Last summer, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) joined forces with local agencies to coordinate the critical Heli-Hydrant […]

Toolkit Helps Educate About Cross-Connection Control

SACRAMENTO — ACWA has partnered with California Urban Water Agencies (CUWA) and other associations to distribute a new toolkit to […]

ACWA Urging Members to Support Preserving Federal Water Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. — ACWA is encouraging member agencies to contact their elected officials in the U.S. Congress and urge them […]

Lights, Camera, Splash! Mesa Water Names Winners of Student Video Contest

COSTA MESA — Mesa Water District (Mesa Water®) is proud to congratulate young filmmakers from Costa Mesa High School for […]

Helix Water District Recognized as a Certified Green Business

LA MESA – Leaders from Helix Water District, a public water utility serving 278,000 people in San Diego’s east county […]

June 2025 Priority Issues Update Now Available

The June 2025 Priority Issues Update is now available online to members. The update is a summary of the latest […]

ACWA Conference Recordings Available

SACRAMENTO — Video and audio recordings of keynotes and selected programs from the ACWA 2025 Spring Conference & Expo will […]

Tribe, Water Districts Reach Water Rights Settlement

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) and Desert Water Agency (DWA) have reached an […]

Western Water Earns Highest ‘AAA’ Bond Rating from S&P Global Ratings

RIVERSIDE — Western Municipal Water District (Western Water) has received the highest possible financial rating—‘AAA’—from S&P Global Ratings, one of the […]

ACWA Co-Sponsored Bills Advance in State Legislature

SACRAMENTO — Mid-way through the Legislative year, two bills co-sponsored by ACWA that could benefit member agencies have passed the […]

Chowchilla Subbasin Avoids Probation Under SGMA

SACRAMENTO — At its June 3 meeting, the State Water Resources Control Board approved a resolution to return the Chowchilla […]