# Plain Language Summary: PFAS Action Act of 2021

This bill takes aim at a group of toxic chemicals called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that have contaminated drinking water and soil across the country. These chemicals are used in firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, and many other products. The main problem is that PFAS breaks down extremely slowly in the environment—some scientists call them "forever chemicals"—and they've been found in the blood of most Americans.

The bill requires the EPA to officially label two of the most common PFAS chemicals (PFOA and PFOS) as hazardous substances within one year, which opens the door for cleanup efforts at contaminated sites and holds polluters financially responsible. Within five years, the EPA must decide whether to classify all other PFAS chemicals the same way. The bill also mandates that the EPA set drinking water safety standards for PFAS within two years, meaning water utilities will need to test for these chemicals and remove them if levels are too high. Companies that manufacture or process PFAS chemicals will be required to conduct comprehensive safety testing and report their findings to the EPA.

Beyond drinking water, the bill addresses PFAS in multiple ways: it restricts how firefighting foam containing PFAS can be used and incinerated, requires manufacturers to disclose when they're introducing PFAS into products, and creates grant programs to help communities upgrade their water treatment infrastructure. The bill also protects airport operators from liability if they were required by the Federal Aviation Administration to use PFAS-containing firefighting foam. For everyday people, this means stricter limits on PFAS in drinking water, clearer labeling of products, and more accountability from companies that use these chemicals—though it may take several years for all these protections to fully take effect.

PFAS Action Act of 2021

Dingell, Debbie

PFAS Action Act of 2021 This bill establishes requirements and incentives to limit the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, and remediate PFAS in the environment. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain PFAS, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. The bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate the PFAS perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as a hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, thereby requiring remediation of releases of those PFAS into the environment. Within five years, the EPA must determine whether the remaining PFAS should be designated as hazardous substances. The EPA must also determine whether PFAS should be designated as toxic pollutants under the Clean Water Act. If PFAS are designated as toxic, then the EPA must establish standards to limit discharges of PFAS from industrial sources into waters of the United States. In addition, the EPA must issue a national primary drinking water regulation for PFAS that, at a minimum, includes standards for PFOA and PFOS. Among other requirements, the EPA must also issue a final rule adding PFOA and PFOS to the list of hazardous air pollutants, test all PFAS for toxicity to human health, and regulate the disposal of materials containing PFAS. Finally, the bill provides incentives to address PFAS, such as grants to help community water systems treat water contaminated by PFAS.