Pugh Issues Statement on Proposed PFAS Chemical Oversight

July 6, 2026

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) is issuing the following statement concerning the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) proposed updates to strengthen oversight of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” in biosolids for farmlands, touting that their announcement highlights the importance of an issue she has been working on since first hearing concerns directly from Pennsylvania farmers.

“My work on this issue began last year with a meeting with our local farm bureau,” Pugh said. “Farmers shared concerns about PFAS contamination, biosolids, groundwater, farmland and the long-term safety of our food supply. Those conversations made it clear that this was an issue deserving serious attention.”

Following those discussions, Pugh met numerous times with DEP, agricultural stakeholders and others to better understand the science, current regulations and potential risks associated with PFAS in biosolids.

Those efforts led to Pugh introducing two pieces of legislation:

• House Bill 1116, which would require DEP to conduct a comprehensive scientific study of PFAS in biosolids, including impacts on soil, groundwater, crops, livestock, milk production, food safety, testing methods, treatment technologies and best practices from other states.
• House Bill 2249, which would establish enforceable protections by requiring the Environmental Quality Board to adopt PFAS contaminant limits for biosolids, prohibit land application when those limits are exceeded, require sampling and treatment before land application, and provide public reporting and oversight.

“Good public policy starts with good science,” Pugh said. “House Bill 1116 seeks to ensure Pennsylvania fully understands the scope of the issue, while House Bill 2249 builds on that knowledge by establishing meaningful safeguards to protect our farms, groundwater and public health.”

Pugh noted that DEP’s proposed permit revisions are separate from her legislation but address many of the same concerns that farmers first raised with her.

“The timeline tells an important story,” Pugh said. “It started with local farmers bringing concerns to my attention. That led to meetings with DEP and stakeholders, followed by legislation to study the issue and strengthen protections. Now DEP is proposing additional oversight of PFAS in biosolids. While these actions are independent of one another, they demonstrate that protecting our farmland, water resources and food supply is an issue that deserves continued attention.”

“As legislators, our job is to listen, ask questions and work toward practical, science-based solutions,” Pugh added. “I appreciate DEP’s continued work on this issue and look forward to reviewing the proposed permit changes. Protecting Pennsylvania agriculture, our water resources and future generations must remain a priority.”

Representative Brenda Pugh
120th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Melissa Fox
717.260.6522
mefox@pahousegop.com
RepPugh.com / Facebook.com/RepBrendaPugh