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Senator Jesse Kiehl Expresses Disappointment in Governor Dunleavy's Veto of a Ban on PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’
JUNEAU – Saturday, Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed House Bill 51 by Rep. Stanley Wright (R-Anchorage). The bill contained provisions from a bill by Sen. Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) preventing future spills of per- and polyflouroalkyl substances, added on the Senate Floor by agreement with the bill sponsor. Firefighting foams are the single biggest source of toxic PFAS pollution in Alaska drinking water, having seeped from airports and refineries in dozens of places across the state. PFAS chemicals are linked to serious health conditions, including low birth weight, thyroid disease, and cancer.
The legislation was scaled back from a more comprehensive approach at the request of the Dunleavy Administration. “The legislature passed a ‘no new spills bill.’ It’s the minimum Alaska needs to keep this giant problem from worsening,” said Sen. Kiehl. The bill prohibits new spraying of PFAS firefighting foams and collects small amounts of state-provided toxic concentrates from remote villages for proper disposal. More than 85% of the rural systems are currently non-functional, so removing the toxic foams would have little or no impact on public safety.
“This veto doesn’t just endanger Alaskans’ health, it risks huge costs to taxpayers. Just one PFAS spill in a village would cost a couple times what this bill's ‘takeback’ provision does.” Kiehl stressed that most rural villages lack the resources to pay for such a cleanup, saying, “That money could only come from the Oil & Hazardous Substance Response Fund, which comes from a tax on ordinary Alaskans’ home heating bills. Governor Dunleavy’s veto will poison Alaskans’ drinking water and empty taxpayers’ pockets tomorrow.”
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) declared some PFAS chemicals to be hazardous substances several years ago, but set excessively high levels. In February 2023, the Department publicly committed to set standards that better protect Alaskans’ health. Senator Kiehl acknowledged progress but said more is needed. “When those new rules surface, we’ll get alternate drinking water to more Alaskans who have PFAS poison in their wells today. But without the bill, there will be more spills and more poisoned water in the future.”
Kiehl noted the governor refused to discuss the bill with him. “I contacted the Governor’s office Friday, August 18, asking to meet and discuss the bill and any concerns he might have. I repeated the request to his team on August 24, but all attempts were refused,” concluded Sen. Jesse Kiehl. “I can’t for the life of me imagine why he felt the need to hide.”
HB 51 passed the Senate on a 20-0 vote. The final bill passed the House of Representatives 38-2.
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