H 503 - PFAS Studies

• Department of Health and Human Services shall study estimated human exposure to PFAS in the Cape Fear River Basin and conduct an epidemiological study to identify disease disparities related to long-term PFAS exposure, with a final report due by December 31, 2022.

• Wildlife Resources Commission shall study ecological exposures and impacts from PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River Basin, with a final report due by December 31, 2022.

• Office of State Budget and Management shall study estimated costs incurred by the State, local governments, businesses, and individuals in response to PFAS exposure, attributing costs to each identified PFAS source, with a final report due by December 31, 2022.

• Department of Environmental Quality shall create an inventory of all ongoing PFAS discharges to air and surface waters and known contamination in soil and groundwater, with initial findings due by September 1, 2022, and shall establish a risk assessment of PFAS health risks by September 1, 2022.

• Environmental Review Commission shall study statutory and regulatory disclosure requirements for PFAS releases and study other states' green chemistry practices to reduce hazardous chemicals and PFAS use, reporting findings to the 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

• Total of $700,000 in nonrecurring funds for fiscal year 2021-2022 is appropriated to state agencies to conduct the required studies.