Florida's Joe Casello Act (HB 1019) establishes new requirements for organizations that use aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and for certain public wastewater treatment facilities. The legislation creates a phased schedule for eliminating PFAS-containing firefighting foam and introduces new monitoring and reporting requirements for qualifying wastewater utilities, with the first compliance deadline beginning on July 1, 2026. As Florida implements the Joe Casello Act, EnSafe is available to help organizations understand the new requirements and develop practical strategies to achieve compliance.
Organizations that manufacture, store, use, or manage AFFF, as well as public wastewater facilities meeting the law's applicability thresholds, should understand how the new requirements affect their operations and begin planning for compliance.
The Joe Casello Act establishes a phased approach for eliminating PFAS-containing AFFF throughout Florida. Beginning July 1, 2026, non-emergency training, testing, and instructional use of AFFF will be prohibited, and organizations possessing AFFF will be required to report their inventories to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). On July 1, 2027, the sale, purchase, and distribution of PFAS-containing AFFF will be prohibited, and organizations with remaining inventories must submit disposal plans to the FDEP. By July 1, 2029, possession and use of PFAS-containing AFFF will generally be prohibited, with limited exemptions for airports, certain military applications, emergency response activities, and approved retrofit projects.
The legislation also establishes new PFAS monitoring requirements for public wastewater treatment facilities with a design capacity of 25,000 gallons per day or greater. Beginning July 1, 2026, these facilities must conduct quarterly sampling of biosolids and treated effluent, analyze samples for specified PFAS compounds, and submit results to the FDEP using approved sampling and reporting procedures. Until applicable federal water quality standards are established and adopted by the FDEP, these sampling results are intended for informational purposes and may not be used as the basis for enforcement actions.
EnSafe's PFAS specialists are ready to assist clients with evaluating regulatory obligations, conducting PFAS sampling programs, assessing AFFF inventories, developing transition and disposal strategies, identifying PFAS sources, evaluating treatment options, and preparing compliance documentation. Our team also provides grant writing and technical support for organizations seeking funding or navigating PFAS-related litigation.
Contact EnSafe today to see how our team can support!