[CPEO-MEF] PFAS: "California Law Bans Toxic PFAS from Firefighting Foam"

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

California Law Bans Toxic PFAS from Firefighting Foam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Environmental Working Group
SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Today, California Gov. Gavin Newson signed into law a measure to ban the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS from firefighting foams. PFAS-based firefighting foams - known as aqueous film-fighting foam, or AFFF - are among the most significant sources of PFAS water contamination.

Authored by Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), the law bans the manufacture, sale and use of firefighting foam containing PFAS from use in most applications by January 1, 2022.

The state is required to track sales and keep the public informed of the ban. Use in training classes also are barred, and manufacturers have to disclose to buyers whether firefighting gear contains the compounds. The bill also restricts the disposal of unused foams.

Violations are subject to civil penalties of up to $5,000 for a first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation.

“This year has made abundantly clear the crucial work of our heroic firefighters,” said Bill Allayaud, EWG’s director of government affairs for California. “Toxic PFAS chemicals in firefighting foams put their health at risk for cancer and other serious health issues. We thank Gov. Newsom for protecting them from this exposure by signing this bill into law, and thank Sen. Allen for authoring it.”


…

For the entire release, see
https://www.ewg.org/release/california-law-bans-toxic-pfas-firefighting-foam

--

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director
Center for Public Environmental Oversight
A project of the Pacific Studies Center
LSiegel@cpeo.org
P.O. Box 998, Mountain View, CA 94042
Voice/Fax: 650-961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org





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