BILL NUMBER: S773

SPONSOR: BRESLIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing maxi-
mum 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 communi-
ties 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 Jeffer-
son County.

PFCAs and PFSAs are "long-chain" perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs).  "Long
chain" PFCs - particularly, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluo-
rooctane sulfonate (PFOS) - have been found to be persistent, bioaccumu-
lative, 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 PFCAs and
to establish maximum contaminant levels for their presence in public
supplies of potable water that is protective of public health.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017/2018: S.4386 Referred to Health

 
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act would take effect immediately.