The Department of Environmental Protection released its first round of statewide tests for PFAS Thursday, with only one location of the 96 sampled having elevated levels above federal guidelines.

The Wolf Administration announced in September of 2018 that it would begin statewide PFAS testing at high risk locations. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl contaminants, can originate in manufacturing or wastewater treatment facilities. The chemicals can cause cancer and other health problems in high concentrations.

With your Thanksgiving turkey and holiday shopping hopefully now behind you, it’s time to catch up on some of the major developments you may have missed in the lead-up to holiday festivities.

 

While legislators won’t be returning to Harrisburg until mid-December for their last few session days of the year, the end of November brought some significant changes to state law. With the stroke of a pen, the purchasing age for tobacco products was increased, Sunday hunting restrictions were loosened and a new nominee was appointed to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Amid all the floor debates, press conferences and committee hearings, the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s newest co-sponsorship memos can get lost in the shuffle. That’s why The PLS Reporter rounds up some of the most noteworthy co-sponsorship memos each week, so you can stay informed of what’s going on in the Capitol.

 

In this week’s feature are memos for proposals that would roll back PennDOT’s decision to allow gender-neutral licenses, restrict the use of PFAS-based firefighting foam and prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to fund hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgeries for state prison inmates. 

In the southeastern portion of the state, communities are grappling with the presence of PFAS — a type of toxic chemical found in firefighting foam — in their drinking water.

 

The problem isn’t unique to Bucks and Montgomery counties, but the prevalence of PFAS in suburban Philadelphia water sources has prompted state lawmakers to search for legislative solutions to their contaminated drinking water.

In light of the alleged murder of a University of Pittsburgh student in October, the Pennsylvania Senate passed SB 196, titled “Alina’s Law”, to increase the options for judges when issuing protection from abuse orders, while continuing to look at more bills to address domestic violence.

SB 196 would allow judges to put electronic tracking devices on the defendants in PFA cases, typical filed by women seeking protection from a violent domestic partner, if the judge feels tracking might be necessary.