ILTA, along with a dozen other trade associations, urged committee leaders in the House and Senate to exercise caution when addressing the regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.
“We appreciate the bipartisan approach taken thus far and recommend that any Congressional action enable the appropriate agencies to carry-out the risk-based approach established in existing U.S. environmental law and policy,” the groups wrote in an August 26 letter. “As warranted, we support the regulation of specific PFAS chemicals, and it is important that Congress prioritize the cleanup of contaminated sites to protect communities. As the Senate and the House of Representatives begin their conference deliberations, we urge you to oppose those provisions that would circumvent existing, well-established regulatory processes, predetermine outcomes using inadequate scientific data, and potentially inhibit effective cleanup of those PFAS that are of the greatest concern.”
The group urged Congress to take the following actions: (1) reject provisions that circumvent existing regulatory authorities and regulate PFAS as a single class; (2) support provisions that provide regulatory agencies with the proper oversight and funding necessary to evaluate and address specific priority PFAS; and (3) adopt an extended timeline for the phase out of aqueous film-forming foam.