,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ddib ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bc1 #bjbb,mr4 ,peters 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,moran1 and ,mrs4 ,shaheen7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the ,national ,academies of ,sciences1 ,engineering1 and ,medicine to study and report on a ,federal research agenda to advance the understanding of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,federal ,,pfas ,research ,evaluation ,act 4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of manmade chemicals that have been used in a wide range of products since the #aidjs1 including firefighting foam1 carpeting1 packaging1 and cookware2 7#b7 there are more than #e1jjj types of registered perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 7#c7 perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are not currently regulated at the ,federal level2 7#d7 perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances-- 7,a7 have been detected in air1 water1 soil1 food1 biosolids1 and more1 where they persist for a long time2 7,b7 can accumulate and remain in the human body and in wildlife and other biota for a long time2 and 7,c7 can lead to serious health effects1 including cancer1 low infant birthweight1 liver and kidney issues1 reproductive and developmental problems1 and more2 7#e7 there remains much unknown about-- 7,a7 the toxicity1 human and environmental health effects1 exposure pathways1 and effective removal1 treatment1 and destruction methods of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 and 7,b7 safe alternatives to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 7#f7 ,federal research efforts have been fragmented at various ,federal agencies and have struggled to effectively address the full scope of challenges presented by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 7#g7 regulatory action and cleanup with respect to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances depend on-- 7,a7 scientific analysis of toxicity data of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 7,b7 decisionmaking on how best to deal with the thousands of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 and 7,c7 understanding the significance of the many exposure pathways for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances that exist2 and 7#h7 a consensus study by the ,national ,academies would help inform decisions by the ,federal ,government1 ,state governments1 industry1 and other stakeholders on how to best address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#b7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation4 7#c7 ,national academies ,the term ,national ,academies means the ,national ,academies of ,sciences1 ,engineering1 and ,medicine4 #d4 ,national academies reports 7a7 ,research assessments of ,,pfas exposure and toxicity 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director1 in consultation with the ,administrator1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 and the heads of other ,federal agencies with expertise relevant to understanding exposure to and toxicity of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances1 shall enter into an agreement with the ,national ,academies-- 7,a7 to conduct a #b-phase study in accordance with this subsection to identify research and development needed to advance human exposure estimations and toxicity and hazard estimations of individual perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances collectively2 and 7,b7 to submit reports describing the results of the studies in accordance with this subsection4 7#b7 ,phase ,i study and report on human exposure estimation 7,a7 ,in general ,the phase ,i study under paragraph 7#a7 shall1 at a minimum-- 7i7 consider lifecycle information on the manufacture1 use1 and disposal of products containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to identify potential human exposure sources and pathways2 7ii7 evaluate-- 7,i7 the fate and transport of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 and 7,,ii7 the breakdown products of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances1 as related to human exposure2 7iii7 if feasible1 estimate human exposure to individual perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances collectively to determine relative source contributions for various exposure pathways 7such as air1 water1 soil1 or food72 7iv7 determine which perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are most likely to contribute to human exposure2 and 7v7 identify research that is needed to advance exposure estimations to individual perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances collectively4 7,b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date on which the agreement described in paragraph 7#a7 is finalized1 the ,national ,academies shall-- 7i7 submit to ,congress a report containing the findings and recommendations of the study described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 make the report under clause 7i7 available on a publicly accessible website4 7#c7 ,phase ,,ii study and report on ,,pfas toxicity and hazard estimation 7,a7 ,in general ,the phase ,,ii study under paragraph 7#a7 shall1 at a minimum-- 7i7 7,i7 review animal and human toxicity information on the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances most likely to contribute to human exposure1 as identified in the phase ,i report under paragraph 7#b77;,b77i72 and 7,,ii7 develop an approach for conducting a human health hazard assessment of the identified perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 7ii7 give consideration as to whether chemical category-based approaches for assessing hazards would be appropriate for evaluating perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances as a group2 and 7iii7 identify research that is needed to advance toxicity and hazard assessments of individual perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances collectively4 7,b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date on which the phase ,i report is submitted to ,congress under paragraph 7#b77;,b77i71 the ,national ,academies shall-- 7i7 submit to ,congress a report containing the findings and recommendations of the study described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 make the report under clause 7i7 available on a publicly accessible website4 7b7 ,research assessments of management and treatment alternatives for ,,pfas contamination in the environment and development of safe alternatives 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director and the ,administrator1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,defense and the heads of other ,federal agencies with expertise relevant to the development of alternatives to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and the management and treatment of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances1 shall jointly enter into an agreement with the ,national ,academies-- 7,a7 to conduct a #b-phase study in accordance with this subsection to better understand-- 7i7 the research and development needed to advance the understanding of the extent and implications of environmental contamination by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 7ii7 the best methods to manage and treat that contamination2 and 7iii7 the development of safe alternatives to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 and 7,b7 to submit reports describing the results of the studies in accordance with this subsection4 7#b7 ,phase ,i study and report on treatment and remediation 7,a7 ,in general ,the phase ,i study under paragraph 7#a7 shall1 at a minimum-- 7i7 assess the best available strategies for treatment1 site remediation1 and safe disposal of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 and 7ii7 describe research gaps relating to the issues described in clause 7i71 including socioeconomic considerations and ways that the ,federal ,government can address the research needs4 7,b7 ,report ,not later than #ah months after the date on which the agreement described in paragraph 7#a7 is finalized1 the ,national ,academies shall-- 7i7 submit to ,congress a report containing the findings and recommendations of the study described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 make the report under clause 7i7 available on a publicly accessible website4 7#c7 ,phase ,,ii study and report on assessment of safe alternatives for ,,pfas 7,a7 ,in general ,the phase ,,ii study under paragraph 7#a7 shall1 at a minimum-- 7i7 examine the state of knowledge for alternatives to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in applications currently1 as of the date of the study1 using perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances that contribute to significant human health or ecological exposures and potential risk2 and 7ii7 identify research needs to address the highest priorities for development of alternatives to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances4 7,b7 ,report ,not later than #c years after the date on which the agreement described in paragraph 7#a7 is finalized1 the ,national ,academies shall-- 7i7 submit to ,congress a report containing the findings and recommendations of the study described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 make the report under clause 7i7 available on a publicly accessible website4 #e4 ,implementation plan 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date on which all reports from the ,national ,academies under section #d have been submitted to ,congress1 the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy1 in coordination with the heads of all relevant ,federal agencies1 shall submit to ,congress an implementation plan for increased collaboration and coordination of ,federal research1 development1 and demonstration activities with respect to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances4 7b7 ,requirement ,in preparing the implementation plan under subsection 7a71 the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy shall take into consideration the recommendations included in the reports submitted to ,congress under section #d4