HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — U.S. Reps Fred Upton, (MI-6), Debbie Dingell, (MI-12), Tim Walberg, (MI-7), and Dan Kildee, (MI-5), today introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 2626, the PFAS Federal Facility Accountability Act of 2019, that requires federal agencies to cooperate with states as PFAS contamination is detected in communities near federal installations such as active military installations, former military installations, or National Guard facilities. This appears to be teh same bill they introduced last fall — and that bill died in committee.
The federal government would need to follow state and federal laws – from which they are currently exempt – for PFAS cleanup around their facilities. The bill will facilitate testing, monitoring, removal, and remediation when these chemicals are detected in the water and soil. Federal agencies would be required to come up with a plan of action with affected states within one year of a request from the state.
“PFAS contamination is such a serious issue in our state and in communities across the nation, and I’m proud that Michigan continues to lead the way on bipartisan solutions to effectively address it,”said Upton. “The legislation we introduced today is yet another important step forward as we work to keep Michiganders and people across the country safe. All levels of government need to be cooperating more and working together so that everyone is on the same page, and that’s what this bill does.”
“We need an all-hands-on deck response to the growing PFAS contamination in Michigan. It will take all of us – local, state, and federal officials – to identify and clean up contaminated sites. This bipartisan legislation will help states such as Michigan respond quickly when contamination is detected at federal facilities,” said Congresswoman Dingell.
“I’m pleased to join my colleagues from Michigan in taking action to address PFAS contamination as these chemicals continue to emerge in our communities and across the country. This bipartisan bill will help increase coordination between federal and state agencies which each have an important role to play in protecting public health and ensuring our water supply is safe from these contaminants,”said Congressman Walberg.
“Families in Oscoda have waited far too long for the military to clean up PFAS chemical contamination in their community. As I have said many times before, the Air Force needs to act more quickly to address contamination at Wurtsmith. This bipartisan legislation will ensure that the Air Force and other government agencies act with more urgency to address the growing public health crisis of PFAS chemicals,” said Congressman Kildee.
