Bill Text: NJ A2327 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires DEP to perform certain assessments concerning regulation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee [A2327 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A2327-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LISA SWAIN
District 38 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman SHAMA A. HAIDER
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman CHRIS TULLY
District 38 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Stanley and Assemblywoman Murphy
SYNOPSIS
Requires DEP to perform certain assessments concerning regulation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and supplementing P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Environmental Protection shall conduct an assessment every five years of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances that are unregulated pursuant to State or federal law, or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, at the time of the assessment, in order to determine whether a maximum contaminant level or other drinking water standard should be established for one or more such PFASs.
b. The Department of Environmental Protection shall conduct an assessment of whether current and proposed maximum contaminant levels for PFASs adequately protect the health of children, given their lower average body weight, and higher ratio of drinking water intake by weight, as compared to a maximum contaminant level based on the average adult body weight.
c. The depart may consult or collaborate with the Drinking Water Quality Institute established pursuant to section 10 of P.L.1983, c.443 (C.58:12A-20) in order to implement the provisions of this section.
d. The department shall submit a written report containing the findings of each assessment conducted pursuant to this section to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature. The department shall also publish each report on its Internet website.
e. As used in this section, "perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance" or "PFAS" means any member of the class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct assessments every five years on the regulation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water.
Specifically, the bill would require the DEP to conduct an assessment every five years of PFASs that are unregulated at the time of the assessment by State or federal law, or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, in order to determine whether a maximum contaminant level or other drinking water standard should be established for additional PFASs. The bill would also require the DEP to conduct an assessment of whether current and proposed maximum contaminant levels for PFASs adequately protect the health of children, given their lower average body weight, and their higher ratio of drinking water intake by weight, as compared to a maximum contaminant level based on the average adult body weight. The bill would require the DEP to provide a written report containing the findings of each assessment to the Governor and the Legislature, and to post the report on its website.
