For Immediate Release
November 3, 2022
Media Contact: Anjuli.Ramos@sierraclub.org | 267-399-6422
Major PFAS Bill Released from Senate Environment Cmt.
Today the Senate Environment and Energy Committee released S3176 (Greenstein/Smith). It would require DEP and Drinking Water Quality Institute to perform study concerning regulation and treatment of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The study would include an assessment to establish a maximum contaminant level of PFAS, widespread man-made chemical compounds that do not break down, in drinking water and potential treatment technologies to remove such contaminants.
Anjuli Ramos- Busot, New Jersey Director of the Sierra Club, released the following statement
“PFAS contamination is widespread and a significant problem for public health here in NJ, and it is important to know that the contamination is not just in our waters. It’s in our air, soils and vegetation. As stated in the bill, there are over 12,000 different PFAS chemicals out there, and their toxicity varies significantly depending upon their chemical structure. The regulation of PFAS in NJ ultimately depends on their impact on public health; this is true for water, but also for air quality. Therefore, understanding PFAS toxicity even on a category basis, not individually, would provide the NJDEP the ability to truly regulate PFAS pollution from the source and not just clean it when it has already contaminated all environmental media.
This bill does not tell the NJDEP how to categorize PFAS, it leaves it up to science, which is the correct thing to do. Additionally, this bill provides the NJDEP the ability to better understand PFAS, control them, and ultimately protect public health.
We thank Senator Greenstein and Senator Smith for their leadership on pushing forward science, research, and regulation of PFAS chemicals in NJ.”
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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information about our work in New Jersey, visit www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey.