The bill aims to enhance public health protections in Massachusetts by addressing the contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It establishes a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund, administered by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), to mitigate PFAS contamination in drinking water, soil, and other environmental media. The fund will prioritize expenditures for communities with environmental justice populations and support projects related to PFAS treatment, assessment, and remediation. The DEP is also mandated to implement monitoring and reporting requirements for PFAS in groundwater and surface water discharge permits, as well as to phase out the use of sludge without specific approvals. Additionally, the bill includes a multilingual public awareness campaign to educate residents about PFAS contamination and prohibits the sale or distribution of food packaging with intentionally added PFAS.

Furthermore, the bill establishes the PFAS Public Health Trust Fund to support education and outreach regarding PFAS contamination and its health impacts. Fees collected from manufacturers related to PFAS will be deposited into this fund, which will also finance a multilingual outreach campaign and support the development of PFAS-free alternatives. The bill prohibits the use of Class B firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS for training, testing, or emergency response, and includes provisions for exempting land from conveyance and roll-back taxes if it is removed from agricultural use due to PFAS contamination. Various sections of the bill have different effective dates, with some provisions taking effect as early as 180 days after enactment.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 61A-12, 61A-13