Virginia House advances PFAS biosolids ban bill, sends it back to Senate

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A bill to ban perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) substances in biosolids used on land advanced out of the Virginia House Friday in an overwhelming vote, though the Senate now needs to approve the newly revised bill.

The Virginia House of Delegates approved Senate Bill 386 on Friday, March 6, 86-12, nearly two months after Sen. Richard Stuart (R-King George), the bill's sponsor, introduced the bill on Jan. 13.

PFAS -- also known as "forever chemicals" -- build up in the body and environment and do not break down easily. Their strong chemical bonds make them highly persistent and potentially cause contamination, leading to serious health issues like increased risk of certain cancers, liver damage, thyroid disease, weakened immunity, reproductive problems, developmental delays in children and higher cholesterol.

Stuart previously said the bill aims to address concerns in his district, where farmers use biosolids as a soil amendment because the material is dry and similar to peat moss.

The bill would ban any person holding a valid Virginia Pollutant Abatement permit from distributing or land-applying sewage sludge in the Commonwealth if it contains any trace of PFAS.

However, as of Friday's approved amendments, there will be no references to fish and shellfish when the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) PFAS expert advisory committee develops recommendations to the PFAS sampling process, per Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington).

"This bill would simply require sewage contributors to collect regular samples for PFAS analysis for DEQ and would help Virginia monitor and reduce the impacts of PFAS in our land, water and food supply," Lopez told the House.

The bill has been negotiated with the wastewater industry and environmental community for several months, according to Lopez.

Since the House passed the bill with amendments, it will now return to the Senate for review of those changes.