NEWMOA Releases First-of-its-kind PFAS Regional Draft Model Legislation for Public Comment

June 16, 2023

Read the full article by Tanner Brantley and Brandon A. Prince (The National Law Review)

"The Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA), a non-profit interstate association composed of members from environmental agencies in seven northeastern states, recently published draft model legislation that aims to provide a comprehensive framework for addressing the production, sale, and disposal of products containing “Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances” or “PFAS.” This model legislation seeks to encourage a consistent approach to addressing PFAS and PFAS containing products among the member states and nationally. NEWMOA is currently accepting public comments for the Draft Model Legislation until June 29, 2023, midnight Eastern.

According to NEWMOA, the goals of this draft model legislation are to:

Reduce/eliminate the use of PFAS in consumer products to the extent feasible;
Identify and implement source reduction programs;
Ensure that the substitutes for PFAS in products are safer and that there are no regrettable substitutes;
Coordinate product disclosure, labeling, bans, phase-outs, source reduction, and end-of-life collection on a multi-state basis;
Help consumers identify products containing PFAS and learn how to properly handle them; and
Provide regulated entities with regulatory certainty."