Bill > HB235

This bill mandates that the state department of environmental conservation test the drinking water from all public water systems annually for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, which are a group of man-made chemicals found in many products. If PFAS are released near a water supply, the department must test that supply and, if contamination levels exceed established limits, provide affected residents with a clean source of drinking water at no cost. The bill also establishes who is responsible for these costs: individuals who caused the release and failed to follow proper use and disposal guidelines are liable, but if they complied with all regulations and manufacturer instructions, the product manufacturer becomes liable for the water testing and provision costs, as well as other related liabilities. Furthermore, any facility that uses thermal remediation, a process to clean up contamination, to address PFAS must obtain a permit under the Clean Air Act and cannot release airborne compounds with carbon-fluorine bonds above minimal detectable levels. The bill defines PFAS to include specific chemicals and others the department may identify, and importantly, the liability provisions for water testing and provision apply retroactively to any PFAS release that has occurred.

Government Affairs

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB235