MAINE, USA — At a hearing Tuesday in Augusta, farmers got a chance to weigh in on proposed rules that would allow any commercial farm in Maine tainted with industrial chemicals known as PFAS to apply for financial help.
Some farmers worry that the PFAS fund isn't large enough to help all Maine farms impacted by the state's sludge-spreading program. But officials with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Conservation that is overseeing the fund say the purpose of the fund is to keep farmers farming.
The source of the contamination comes from municipal sludge that was trucked to farms for decades and used as free fertilizer as part of a state-licensed program.
More than 60 farms have been identified by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, as having contaminated soil and water, and under the proposed PFAS fund will be prioritized when it comes to receiving farm buyouts, if they are willing to sell.
The funds will also cover the cost of blood testing, which can run between $400 to $600, mental health services, and health monitoring. Adam Nordell was forced to shut down his organic operation, Songbird Farm in Unity due to the contamination. He and his family have high levels of the chemicals in their blood.
"Worrying about the impacts on our physical health is an enormous concern and stress burden, we must understand our exposure and get medical treatment moving forward," Nordell explained.
The deadline to submit testimony on the proposed fund rules is Jan. 26. The application process could begin in early March after the rules for the fund are finalized, possibly at the end of February.