(SB1319)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 1319, which requires publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) to mandate certain industrial users to self-report their use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and submit that information to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

This legislation is unnecessary, as it prematurely expands efforts already underway following the enactment of legislation just last year where the General Assembly approved significant new steps in Virginia's PFAS policy and related requirements. A carefully crafted PFAS monitoring and reporting framework was established, which DEQ is actively implementing. Under the current law, DEQ has already issued self-reporting and monitoring directives to 185 facilities, prioritized PFAS source assessments, and begun enforcing reporting requirements for facilities contributing to PFAS contamination in public drinking water systems. These measures are substantial, but are still in the early stages of implementation, and additional self-reporting mandates should not be imposed before evaluating the effectiveness of the existing framework.

Given that significant PFAS reporting requirements were just enacted last year, this legislation is premature, misaligned with the timing and priorities established by last year's legislation, and may have unintended consequences that do not ultimately improve environmental outcomes.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.