Sen. Ingwersen, Rep. Gramlich release statements on bill to continue phase-out of PFAS-contaminated products

AUGUSTA — On Thursday, March 7, the Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee heard from advocates, industry groups and state officials on LD 1537, a bill from Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel, that would continue to phase out the sale of products contaminated with PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” in Maine. 

The bill is a continuation of the work started by Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, to protect the environment and public health of all Mainers from further PFAS exposure.

In response to the committee work session and ongoing pushback from industry groups that Maine’s current PFAS reporting law is too restrictive, Sen. Ingwersen and Rep. Gramlich released the following statements:

Sen. Ingwersen:

“Ever since I heard about the contamination on Stoneridge Farm in 2017, I have been passionate about working to protect the health and environment of all Mainers. Since then, the state of Maine has found over 70 farms and over 600 wells contaminated with PFAS. In an effort to tackle this very real public health crisis, the Maine Legislature has passed several bills with bipartisan support, including LD 1503, which strategically phases out all currently unavoidable uses of PFAS in products. This measure is vital to help protect the health of Maine’s people and natural resources. It’s also the financially responsible thing to do: As we continue to invest in PFAS remediation, we need to do all we can to slow and eventually stop the flow of PFAS from coming into our state. Nevertheless, there have been several attempts to overturn or weaken the law. 

“There is a lot of discussion about the burden on businesses and large corporations. But what about our farmers? They are businesses, too. They account for $26 billion in revenue for the state, and they have been hit the hardest by PFAS proliferation. This includes my own constituent, Fred Stone, of Stoneridge Farm, who has lost his livelihood and is battling health issues because of this PFAS contamination. While legitimate concerns are being addressed, the solution is not to repeal the entire law or provide wholesale exemptions. LD 1537 is a commonsense, measured approach to phasing out the use of PFAS in products while allowing exemptions for essential, unavoidable uses. This bill protects our health, our environment and our Maine economy.”

Rep. Gramlich:

“Over the past several years, we have made incredible strides as a state to uncover the degree of PFAS contamination in our environment, support impacted communities and better protect Mainers from the health risks posed by PFAS exposure. A major victory in this effort was LD 1503, which the Legislature passed in 2021 with overwhelming bipartisan support. This law included critical reporting and phase-out provisions for manufacturers of products with intentionally added PFAS.

“Now is not the time to backtrack on the progress we’ve made. Our committee – in conjunction with environmental and public health advocates – has worked hard to alleviate the concerns of businesses and make it easier to comply with the current law, including by extending the notification deadline until 2025. Changing the law further by implementing sweeping exemptions would only weaken it significantly more.

“As amended, LD 1537 would extend the phase-out of unnecessary uses of PFAS in products to 2032. It includes reasonable compromises, like exemptions for medical and veterinary medical supplies, and would only require businesses using PFAS in a way that is currently unavoidable to report that use to the DEP. Consumers deserve to know what is in the products they are buying, and it’s time for corporations, many of which are from out-of-state, to make good faith efforts to reduce the use of these toxic chemicals.”

LD 1537 is scheduled for a work session before the Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday.