AK HB171

Department of Environmental Conservation must ensure responsible parties test drinking water for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) when released in a water supply area, with specific contamination limits set for seven substances ranging from 6 to 400,000 parts per trillion.

Responsible parties must provide affected persons and responders (first responders, cleanup workers) with alternative drinking water sources and at least one voluntary blood test at no cost to determine PFAS exposure.

Persons causing fires that release PFAS-containing firefighting substances are liable for water testing and blood testing costs, except for releases in residential buildings or motor vehicles.

Oil and gas industry personnel may use PFAS-containing firefighting substances unless the state fire marshal adopts regulations requiring alternatives deemed safe and effective by federal testing standards.

Facilities thermally remediating PFAS contamination must obtain a Clean Air Act permit and cannot release more than minimal amounts of airborne compounds with carbon-fluorine bonds; most provisions take effect January 1, 2022.