A temporary compromise reached by lawmakers means Maine communities are once again burying sewage sludge in the state-owned landfill at Juniper Ridge near Old Town, and don’t have to pay extra to haul the waste to New Brunswick, Canada.
PFAS
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Lawmakers tour Maine before negotiating next federal farm bill
Maine needs federal policy to be flexible enough to support small specialty farmers, keep food banks full and provide relief to farmers struggling with PFAS contamination, lawmakers are told at a U.S. Congress agricultural field hearing.
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Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
State adopts $70 million plan to help farmers deal with PFAS contamination
The fund will dedicate $30.3 million in grants to get farmers back on their feet, $21.5 million in compensation for contaminated land, $7.3 million for medical needs and $11.2 million for scientific research.
Posted inNation & World, News, Uncategorized
Study finds drinking water from nearly half of U.S. faucets contains ‘forever chemicals’
Researchers describe the study as the first nationwide effort to test for PFAS in tap water from private sources in addition to regulated ones.
Posted inBusiness, Health, Local & State, Nation & World, News
3M reaches $10.3 billion settlement over contamination of water systems with ‘forever chemicals’
The deal would compensate water providers for pollution with per- and polyfluorinated substances, known collectively as PFAS.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Farmers whose lands were polluted urge state to disburse PFAS relief funds
The state may begin distributing $60 million in relief funding this summer.
Posted inBusiness, Health, Local & State, News
A forever farm is no match for forever chemicals
A fourth-generation farmer running an organic dairy farm in Fairfield lost his livelihood when his milk and lands tested hot for PFAS contamination. ‘It got us good.’
Posted inLocal & State, News
Watchdog group: PFAS is active ingredient in 13% of Maine pesticides
An analysis by the Environmental Working Group found 55 so-called forever chemicals listed as active ingredients in 1,426 of Maine’s state-approved pesticides.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: PFAS contamination also has mental health impact on Maine’s farmers
Cultivemos, a network funded by the 2018 Farm Bill, is making sure that farmers have increased options for access to supportive services where they live and where they work.
Posted inEditorials, Opinion
Our View: Farmers should get whatever it takes to overcome PFAS contamination
The state has an obligation to make farmers whole for the loss to their lives and livelihood.