While activity related to the transition away from PFAS at the federal level proceeds in the ‘draft’ and ‘proposal’ stages, state legislation has continued to be the primary source of legislative and regulatory action. Many state bills have been introduced to address the use of firefighting foams containing PFAS. Several of these proposed laws could directly impact ILTA members if passed, including:
The status of state-level PFAS bills will continue to be tracked in the ILTA’s PFAS legislation tracker, and major updates from legislation will be provided in the newsletter.
Increased regulation has also been a tool to address PFAS issues. New propositions aim to set limits on PFAS levels in water. The most recent state to address this is Wisconsin, whose Natural Resources Board is planning to take up proposed standards for PFAS in drinking water, surface water and groundwater.
Additionally, firefighters from Massachusetts and New York have filed two separate lawsuits against 3M and other PFAS manufacturers for exposure leading to health risks. These lawsuits attribute both PFAS in firefighting foam and PFAS in their PPE leading to higher risks of health conditions. These lawsuits are part of a growing trend of lawsuits aimed at PFAS manufacturers.