[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 231 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 55
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 231
[Report No. 117-21]
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
February 4, 2021
Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Sullivan, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Tillis, Mr.
Carper, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Collins, Ms. Sinema, and Mrs. Shaheen)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
May 10, 2021
Reported by Mr. Peters, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
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,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Firefighters
from Adverse Substances Act'' or the ``PFAS Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO AND RELEASE OF
PFAS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) develop and publish guidance for firefighters
and other emergency response personnel on training, education
programs, and best practices to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) reduce the exposure to per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly referred to as
``PFAS'') from firefighting foam and personal
protective equipment; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) limit or prevent the release of PFAS
from firefighting foam into the environment;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) firefighters and other emergency response
personnel, including national fire service and emergency
response organizations;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) impacted communities dealing with PFAS
contamination;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) scientists, including public and occupational
health and safety experts, who are studying PFAS and PFAS
alternatives in firefighting foam;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) voluntary standards organizations engaged in
developing standards for firefighter and firefighting
equipment;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) State fire training academies;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) State fire marshals;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) manufacturers of firefighting tools and
equipment; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Applicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to this Act.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Firefighters from Adverse
Substances Act'' or the ``PFAS Act''.
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 and eliminate exposure to per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly referred to as
``PFAS'') from firefighting foam and personal
protective equipment; and
(B) prevent the release of PFAS from firefighting
foam into the environment;
(2) develop and issue guidance for firefighters and other
emergency response personnel on foams and non-foam
alternatives, 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.
Calendar No. 55
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 231
[Report No. 117-21]
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
May 10, 2021
Reported with an amendment