HB 1443 (Lopez) would require any owner of a sewage treatment works that is land applying, marketing or distributing sewage sludge in the Commonwealth to collect a sample of finished sewage sludge product quarterly and have such sample analyzed by a laboratory for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The bill restricts or prohibits land application of sewage sludge through a tiered system and requires the owner to send the test results to the landowner of every property at which the owner intends to land apply such sewage sludge if the analysis reveals certain concentrations of PFAS in such sewage sludge.
VACo opposes the introduced version of HB 1443 as the testing, lab analysis and disposal requirements in the introduced bill have the potential to place a large fiscal impact on wastewater facilities and local governments across the Commonwealth.
VACo is committed to working with stakeholders and the patron on HB 1443 and will provide updates when available.
VACo Contact: James Hutzler