Bill > LD130

This bill establishes the PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) Response Program to address PFAS contamination in agricultural settings, with multiple key provisions. The program aims to help commercial farms affected by PFAS contamination by providing testing support, technical assistance, and financial aid, including reimbursement for self-testing, water filtration equipment, livestock depopulation, and infrastructure support. The bill allows the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to establish maximum PFAS levels in farm products, prohibit commercial sale when those levels are exceeded, and require on-farm mitigation efforts. The program will require agricultural producers to grant property access and cooperate with investigations to receive assistance, and it includes provisions for producers to request hearings if financial support is denied. Additionally, the bill modifies existing regulations around the Fund to Address PFAS Contamination, changing requirements for the advisory committee (such as reducing public hearings from two to one annually) and clarifying that health care information related to PFAS services must be treated as confidential. The overall goal is to safeguard public health, support agricultural producers, and strategically respond to PFAS contamination concerns.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=130&snum=132