H.R. 2533 – Reading Mode

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2533

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 7, 2019

Mr. Pallone introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To assist community water systems affected by PFAS contamination, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Providing Financial Assistance for Safe Drinking Water Act or the PFAS Drinking Water Act.

Establishment of PFAS Infrastructure Grant Program

Part E of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1459E.

Assistance for community water systems affected by PFAS

(a)

Establishment

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish a program to award grants to affected community water systems to pay for capital costs associated with the implementation of eligible treatment technologies.

(b)

Applications

(1)

Guidance

Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall publish guidance describing the form and timing for community water systems to apply for grants under this section.

(2)

Required information

The Administrator shall require a community water system applying for a grant under this section to submit—

(A)

information showing the presence of PFAS in water of the community water system; and

(B)

a certification that the treatment technology in use by the community water system at the time of application is not sufficient to remove all detectable amounts of PFAS.

(c)

List of eligible treatment technologies

Not later than 150 days after the date of enactment of this section, and every two years thereafter, the Administrator shall publish a list of treatment technologies that the Administrator determines are effective at removing all detectable amounts of PFAS from drinking water.

(d)

Priority for funding

In awarding grants under this section, the Administrator shall prioritize affected community water systems that—

(1)

serve a disadvantaged community;

(2)

will provide at least a 10-percent cost share for the cost of implementing an eligible treatment technology; or

(3)

demonstrate the capacity to maintain the eligible treatment technology to be implemented using the grant.

(e)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not more than $500,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025.

(f)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Affected community water system

The term affected community water system means a community water system that is affected by the presence of PFAS in the water in the community water system.

(2)

Disadvantaged community

The term disadvantaged community has the meaning given that term in section 1452.

(3)

Eligible treatment technology

The term eligible treatment technology means a treatment technology included on the list published under subsection (c).

Definition

Section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(17)

PFAS

The term PFAS means a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.