BOSTON: Clean Water Action sent the following letter to legislators, regarding the progress of the Mass Ready Act:
"Clean Water Action thanks the Massachusetts Legislature for advancing the environmental bond bill. We specifically applaud the Legislature for its allocation of:
- $385 million for the Water Pollution Abatement Trust to support wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water projects; and
- $120 million for a new Clean Drinking Water Fund (2200-7029) to address PFAS contamination.
These are essential public health investments. As the conference committee meets to finalize the Mass Ready Act, we ask the committee to ensure that the following investments are maintained in the completed version of the bill:
- $25 million in 8324-0102 funding to develop, test, and purchase PFAS-free personal protective equipment for Massachusetts firefighters;
- $125 million in 2200-7029 funding including $5 million for research, technical assistance and grants to advance safer alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in products and manufacturing as well as projects that prevent the future release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in air, water and soil;
- $15 million in 2200-7030 funding for a grant program to remediate drinking water infrastructure at schools and childcare centers for presence of PFAS and lead;
- $5 million in 2200-7027 funding for a pilot indoor air monitoring program at schools, public housing and other priority sites in environmental justice communities.
Since 2018, the federal government, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the state’s cities and towns, have allocated at least $1.46 billion to protect our state’s drinking water.
The additional $505 million authorized under the Mass Ready Act represents an essential investment in the continued work needed to address PFAS contamination of drinking water. This significant funding, as important as it is, will not be enough to cover the costs of remediating PFAS in drinking water. In fact, researchers have found that, without use restrictions, the national cost of cleaning up PFAS contamination will likely exceed the annual Gross Domestic Product.
The only way Massachusetts can control future costs and protect public health is to prevent continued PFAS contamination. The $5 million in 2200-7029 and $25 million in 8324-0102 in the MassReady Act are important first steps in this direction.
Remediation alone is not enough to keep our state safe from toxic PFAS. Legislative leaders must “turn off the tap” by restricting PFAS in consumer products, controlling industrial releases, and stopping the land application of wastewater sludge.
Clean Water Action applauds the Massachusetts Legislature and Governor Healy for the generational investments of the Mass Ready Act.
Now, we call upon all parties to act swiftly to pass Senator Julian Cyr and Speaker Pro Tempore Hogan’s Act to protect Massachusetts public health from PFAS (S3034/H4870). We should not end the 2025/6 session without putting in place the prevention infrastructure Massachusetts needs to protect our drinking water and the health of all current and future Massachusetts residents."