WASHINGTON – The Environmental Working Group applauds the Senate Armed Services Committee for including several provisions to tackle the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024.
The bill passed through the committee today and contains several PFAS provisions that would:
- Help affected communities navigate the PFAS testing and cleanup process through technical assistance grants.
- Require the Defense Department to publish a PFAS-specific budget identifying research and development, testing, remediation, contamination, disposal and outreach efforts.
- Require the DOD to release a PFAS cleanup schedule and cost estimate every two years and regularly update its website on the status of cleanup at sites.
- Authorize $5 million for an ongoing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study of the health effects of PFAS exposure in military communities.
- Clarify National Guard sites’ eligibility for DOD cleanup funding.
- Require the Government Accountability Office to review the DOD’s site investigation and testing processes and make recommendations for improvement.
- Allow the DOD to destroy and dispose of PFAS-contaminated materials only through methods approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Require the DOD to provide a briefing identifying ways to improve its outreach with communities about PFAS contamination.
- Restrict funding to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment until the DOD provides a plan to restore PFAS test data sharing with communities and state regulators.
“PFAS contamination is pervasive at hundreds of communities near DOD bases,” said Scott Faber, EWG senior vice president for government affairs. “The PFAS provisions in this bill will help to accelerate cleanup efforts and provide needed transparency about PFAS levels, risks and cleanup status to those communities. That relief can’t come soon enough.”
“We applaud Chairman Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R.-Miss.) and Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H), Kirsten Gillibrand (D.-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D.-Mich.), and Mike Rounds (R.-S.D) for making PFAS a priority,” Faber said.
PFAS have been confirmed at more than 400 military installations, and hundreds more may be contaminated. Studies show exposure to very low levels of PFAS can increase the risk of cancer, harm fetal development and reduce vaccine effectiveness.
PFAS are known as forever chemicals because they build up in our blood and organs and do not break down in the environment.
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
