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Home My WebLink About14.a FYI Support for S.1430 – Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act `��,•� coU,yr` Clay County Utility Authority Working together to 3176 Old Jennings Road protect public health. M iddleburg,FL 32068-3907 conserve our natural Telephone(904)272-5999 resources.and create ��/ty p�� www.clayutility.org Iona-tern value bor AUTHour ratepayers. March 19, 2024 The Honorable U.S. Senator Marco Rubio 284 Russell Senate Building Washington D.C., 20510 RE: Support for S.1430— Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act Dear Senator Rubio, The Clay County Utility Authority (CCUA) appreciates your efforts representing the people of the great State of Florida. We respectfully request your support for the following: • Support for S.1430— Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act recently filed by Senator Cynthia Lumis from Wyoming with seven (7) co-sponsors. • Consideration to co-sponsor the bill. CCUA considers S.1430 an important piece of legislation. This bill, if passed, provides drinking water and wastewater utilities, like CCUA, with a critical exemption from liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) releases. Without this exemption, CCUA and other water sector utilties will be liable to pay for future PFAS cleanups under the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed rule to designate two PFAS compounds - Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) - as CERCLA Hazardous Substances. The EPA is also seeking public comment on classifying seven other PFAS compounds as hazardous under CERCLA. CCUA considers a needed exemption during this 118th Congress due to EPA's current rulemaking incredibly important. As a Special Legislative District in the great State of Florida offering drinking water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services, we do not use PFAS in any of our treatment systems or processes. CCUA receives these chemicals from outside sources contributing to the wastewater streams our systems treat. We consider the PFAS manufactures and suppliers the source of the pollution contributed to water and wastewater we treat. We ask you to support a long-standing principle the "Polluter Pays" and not the "Public Pays" for PFAS pollution cleanup. Florida's communities,including the citizens of Clay County,should not bear the financial burden for the actions of PFAS manufacturers and suppliers. CCUA takes great pride in serving the citizens of Clay County, 24/7, 365 days a year. CCUA also takes pride in serving our customers as a utility doing the right things the right way by implementing new treatment systems and technology before being required. CERCLA PFAS cleanup costs will potentially cause significant financial impacts on CCUA which will be passed on to our • customers. CCUA's customers do not deserve to have the cost of PFAS cleanup actions added to their household budgets. Thank you for your time and consideration on this important issue to CCUA and the people of Clay County, Florida. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. Respectfully, Clay County Utility Authority J emy D. Johnston, A. PE Executive Director Florida Licensed Professional Engineer cc: Clay County Utility Authority Board of Supervisors File Clay County Utility Authority Letter of Support for S. 1430—Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act Page 2 Crini) coa Clay County Utility Authority Working together to 3176 Old Jennings Roadprotect public health, Middleburg, FL 32068 3907conserve our natural Telephone(904)272 5999 resources.and create CI www.clayutiIity.org Iona rat value for AU7H our ratepayers. March 19, 2024 The Honorable U.S. Senator Rick Scott 110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington D.C., 20510 RE: Support for S.1430— Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act Dear Senator Scott, The Clay County Utility Authority (CCUA) appreciates your efforts representing the people of the great State of Florida. We respectfully request your support for the following: • Support for S.1430—Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act recently filed by Senator Cynthia Lumis from Wyoming with seven(7) co-sponsors. • Consideration to co-sponsor the bill. CCUA considers S.1430 an important piece of legislation. This bill, if passed, provides drinking water and wastewater utilities, like CCUA, with a critical exemption from liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) releases. Without this exemption, CCUA and other water sector utilties will be liable to pay for future PFAS cleanups under the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed rule to designate two PFAS compounds - Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) - as CERCLA Hazardous Substances. The EPA is also seeking public comment on classifying seven other PFAS compounds as hazardous under CERCLA. CCUA considers a needed exemption during this 118th Congress due to EPA's current rulemaking incredibly important. As a Special Legislative District in the great State of Florida offering drinking water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services, we do not use PFAS in any of our treatment systems or processes. CCUA receives these chemicals from outside sources contributing to the wastewater streams our systems treat. We consider the PFAS manufactures and suppliers the source of the pollution contributed to water and wastewater we treat. We ask you to support a long-standing principle the "Polluter Pays" and not the "Public Pays" for PFAS pollution cleanup. Florida's communities,including the citizens of Clay County, should not bear the financial burden for the actions of PFAS manufacturers and suppliers. CCUA takes great pride in serving the citizens of Clay County, 24/7, 365 days a year. CCUA also takes pride in serving our customers as a utility doing the right things the right way by implementing new treatment systems and technology before being required. CERCLA PFAS cleanup costs will potentially cause significant financial impacts on CCUA which will be passed on to our customers. CCUA's customers do not deserve to have the cost of PFAS cleanup actions added to their household budgets. Thank you for your time and consideration on this important issue to CCUA and the people of Clay County, Florida. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. Respectfully, Clay County Utility Authority, cremy D. Johnston, MBA, PE Executive Director Florida Licensed Professional Engineer cc: Clay County Utility Authority Board of Supervisors File Clay County Utility Authority Letter of Support for S. 1430—Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act Page 2