What's happening
This bill requires New York to set maximum contaminant levels for PFCAs and PFSAs in public drinking water to protect health.
Why it matters
Directs the state health commissioner to investigate and set enforceable limits on PFCAs and PFSAs in drinking water, not just study them. This means the state must act based on actual health risks, rather than waiting for federal action or recommendations, potentially leading to faster and stricter protections.
Allows for emergency rulemaking if contamination is found to pose immediate health threats. This gives the state the legal authority to move quickly and bypass normal, slower administrative processes if rapid action is needed to protect public health.
Targets a broad class of chemicals (PFCAs and PFSAs), not just individual substances. Since these chemicals are widespread in consumer products and have been linked to serious health effects (like cancer, immune issues, and developmental harm), comprehensive regulation can help prevent loopholes where only specific compounds are regulated, while others remain unaddressed.
May lead to increased monitoring and potential upgrades for public water systems. Water suppliers might need to test more frequently and invest in new treatment technologies, which could impact both public safety and water system costs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Toxins in Drinking Water
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4386
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing maximum contaminant levels for perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) in public drinking water
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 1100-b to read as follows:
§ 1100-b. Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs). 1. The commissioner shall conduct a comprehensive examination of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) and establish a maximum contaminant level for the presence of any perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids in public supplies of potable water that is protective of public health.
2. Such examination and drinking water standard for perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids shall be implemented in accordance with the state administrative procedure act and be completed as soon as practicable, including implementation by emergency rule if determined by the commissioner as necessary to protect public health.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09679-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing maximum contaminant levels for perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) in public drinking water
Purpose
This bill directs the Department of Health to conduct a health review of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids and establish maximum contaminant levels for their presence in public water supplies that is protective of public health.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill would amend the public health law to add a new section 1100-b directing the commissioner of the department of health to conduct a comprehensive health review of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids and establish maximum contaminant levels for their presence in public supplies of potable water that is protective of public health. This section further directs the department of health to complete this review as soon as practicable while adhering to existing rulemaking procedures.
Section two establishes the effective date.
Justification
The recent contamination of drinking water in several New York communities by perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFSAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) has raised significant concerns regarding public health. Communities affected by contamination from these chemicals include: Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Suffolk County; Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh in Rensselaer County; Newburgh in Orange County; White Creek and Cambridge in Washington County; and Fort Drum in Jefferson County.
PFCAs and PFSAs are "long-chain" perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). "Long chain" PFCs - particularly, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) - have been found to be persistant, bioaccumulative, toxic and carcinogenic.
These chemicals are still not regulated at the federal level under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Although, PFOA and PFOS were included in the Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule as chemicals that are known to exist in public water systems that may present a public health risk.
New York State has adopted the life-time and short-term health advisory levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency for PFOA and PFOS. However, other states including neighboring New Jersey and Vermont have set lower regulatory levels based on extensive review and analysis of existing scientific research. This research has demonstrated that risks to public health may exist at exposure levels below the current EPA health advisory levels.
This bill would therefore direct the commissioner of the Department of Health to conduct a comprehensive health review for PFCAs and PFSAs and to establish maximum contaminant levels for their presence in public supplies of potable water that is protective of public health.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Budget implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act would take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.