New Hampshire Senate Passes Bipartisan Clean Water Legislation
Contact Name: Sara Persechino
Phone: (603) 271-3479
Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us
CONCORD - Today, the Senate passed HB 1264, a bipartisan clean water bill addressing PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) contamination and drinking water safety as well as extending the Commission on the Seacoast Cancer Cluster Investigation. HB 1264 next goes to the House of Representatives for a concurrence vote, which requires a simple majority.
After the vote, Senator Tom Sherman (D-Rye), Senator David Watters (D-Dover), and Senator Shannon Chandley (D-Amherst) issued the following statements:
“The right to clean drinking water is an issue that cuts across party lines. Today’s vote sets clear guidelines on maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) based on the latest science from the NH Department of Environmental Services, provides relief to municipalities taking on remediation projects, ensures insurance coverage for PFAS blood testing, and extends the Commission on the Seacoast Cancer Cluster Investigation to allow for their continued work through June 30, 2022,” said Senate Health and Human Services Chair Tom Sherman (D-Rye).
“The strong bipartisan support for not only HB 1264, but the underlying legislation that make up the language of this omnibus bill, is a strong indicator of the importance New Hampshire places on environmental and public health and the concerns we all share for the safety of our drinking water,” added Senator David Watters (D-Dover). “These measures constitute important steps that put a stop to PFAS exposure, provide critical financial support for our municipalities, and make long term remediation efforts as a state that can prevent long term and costly effects on public health.”
Senator Shannon Chandley (D-Amherst) concluded, “These bills previously enjoyed bipartisan support in the Senate, and I am grateful for the work of my colleagues to ensure these important public safety measures move forward as our state continues to grapple with COVID-19 relief and recovery.”
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