[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 99 (Thursday, June 13, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 573. Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Peters, Mr.
Tillis, Ms. Baldwin, and Mr. Burr) submitted an amendment intended to
be proposed by her to the bill S. 1790, to authorize appropriations for
fiscal year 2020 for military activities of the Department of Defense,
for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department
of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal
year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following:
SEC. 10__. PFAS DETECTION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the United States Geological Survey.
(3) Perfluorinated compound.--
(A) In general.--The term ``perfluorinated compound'' means
a perfluoroalkyl substance or a polyfluoroalkyl substance
that is manmade with at least 1 fully fluorinated carbon
atom.
(B) Definitions.--In this definition:
(i) Fully fluorinated carbon atom.--The term ``fully
fluorinated carbon atom'' means a carbon atom on which all
the hydrogen substituents have been replaced by fluorine.
(ii) Nonfluorinated carbon atom.--The term ``nonfluorinated
carbon atom'' means a carbon atom on which no hydrogen
substituents have been replaced by fluorine.
(iii) Partially fluorinated carbon atom.--The term
``partially fluorinated carbon atom'' means a carbon atom on
which some, but not all, of the hydrogen substituents have
been replaced by fluorine.
(iv) Perfluoroalkyl substance.--The term ``perfluoroalkyl
substance'' means a manmade chemical of which all of the
carbon atoms are fully fluorinated carbon atoms.
(v) Polyfluoroalkyl substance.--The term ``polyfluoroalkyl
substance'' means a manmade chemical containing a mix of
fully fluorinated carbon atoms, partially fluorinated carbon
atoms, and nonfluorinated carbon atoms.
(b) Performance Standard for the Detection of
Perfluorinated Compounds.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall establish a performance
standard for the detection of perfluorinated compounds.
(2) Emphasis.--
(A) In general.--In developing the performance standard
under paragraph (1), the Director shall emphasize the ability
to detect as many perfluorinated compounds present in the
environment as possible using analytical methods that--
(i) achieve limits of quantitation; and
(ii) are as sensitive as is feasible and practicable.
(B) Requirement.--In developing the performance standard
under paragraph (1), the Director shall--
(i) develop quality assurance and quality control measures
to ensure accurate sampling and testing;
(ii) develop a training program with respect to the
appropriate method of sample collection and analysis of
perfluorinated compounds; and
(iii) coordinate with the Administrator, including, if
appropriate, coordinating to develop media-specific,
validated analytical methods to detect individual and
different perfluorinated compounds simultaneously.
(c) Nationwide Sampling.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a nationwide
sampling to determine the concentration of perfluorinated
compounds in estuaries, lakes, streams, springs, wells,
wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and soil using the performance
standard developed under subsection (b)(1).
(2) Requirements.--In carrying out the sampling under
paragraph (1), the Director shall--
(A) first carry out the sampling at sources of drinking
water near locations with known or suspected releases of
perfluorinated compounds;
(B) when carrying out sampling of sources of drinking water
under subparagraph (A), carry out the sampling prior to any
treatment of the water;
(C) survey for ecological exposure to perfluorinated
compounds, with a priority in determining direct human
exposure through drinking water; and
(D) consult with--
(i) States to determine areas that are a priority for
sampling; and
(ii) the Administrator--
(I) to enhance coverage of the sampling; and
(II) to avoid unnecessary duplication.
(3) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of
the sampling under paragraph (1), the Director shall prepare
a report describing the results of the sampling and submit
the report to--
(A) the Committee on Environment and Public Works, the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee
on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives;
(C) the Senators of each State in which the Director
carried out the sampling; and
(D) each Member of the House of Representatives that
represents a district in which the Director carried out the
sampling.
(d) Data Usage.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall provide the sampling
data collected under subsection (c) to--
(A) the Administrator; and
(B) other Federal and State regulatory agencies on request.
(2) Usage.--The sampling data provided under paragraph (1)
shall be used to inform and enhance assessments of exposure,
likely health and environmental impacts, and remediation
priorities.
(e) Collaboration.--In carrying out this section, the
Director shall collaborate with--
(1) appropriate Federal and State regulators;
(2) institutions of higher education;
(3) research institutions; and
(4) other expert stakeholders.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this
section--
(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
(2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024.
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