Posted: | June 23, 2017 09:12 AM |
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From: | Representative Bernie O'Neill and Rep. Katharine M. Watson |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Legislation Amending the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act |
As you may be aware, Warminster, Horsham and Warrington townships, Bucks County are wrestling with contamination from perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) resulting from firefighting training activities at military facilities in the area. However, while no federal or state health advisory levels have been determined at this time, we are limited in our ability to fully address these concerns. Establishing health advisory levels, cleanup standards, and similar rules and requirements can take years because of the depth and extent of the research and analysis involved. Accordingly, in the near future, we will introduce legislation amending our Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act to allow the governor to make a declaration of disaster emergency, consistent with his powers to do so under Title 35 (Health and Safety), naming any affected community a “special drinking water resource-impacted community” for any area where analyses indicate the presence of PFOA or PFOS in ground water or surface water measured at or exceeding 15 parts per trillion. This declaration of emergency will have the effect of setting a standard for the areas included and allow appropriate federal and state response efforts to protect the welfare of our residents. Please consider cosponsoring this important legislation to protect our water and our citizens from unhealthy exposure to these dangerous substances. If you have any questions on this legislation, please contact Jeannie Dougherty in Representative O’Neill’s Harrisburg office at 705-7170 or by e-mailing jdougher@pahousegop.com. Thank you for your consideration and support of this very important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as HB1640