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Fund to Address PFAS Contamination

What is the PFAS Fund?

The PFAS Fund was created in 2022 by Governor Mills to support farmers whose land and/or water are contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Legislature appropriated $60 million dollars from the General Fund for this purpose.

The impact of PFAS on some farms and farm families is not unique to Maine. The practice of applying wastewater residuals to farmland is an approved practice by EPA nationwide. However, because these so-called “forever chemicals” can be taken up into soil, water, livestock, products, and ultimately humans, a robust response from the Legislature and the State of Maine was necessary. The PFAS Fund is a first-in-the-country coordinated effort to specifically address PFAS in agriculture.

The PFAS Fund will:

Provide direct financial support to PFAS-impacted commercial farmers;
Purchase and manage PFAS-contaminated agricultural land from willing sellers;
Fund research to help farmers make informed decisions about how to adjust their operations; and
Support access to blood testing, mental health services, and other health-related initiatives.

With the assistance of an advisory committee, DACF developed an implementation plan to guide how the money will be spent. The Plan for Administration of the Fund to Address PFAS Contamination (PDF) was adopted by the PFAS Fund Advisory Committee on July 10, 2023. It includes 23 strategies to achieve the objectives described in the PFAS Fund’s enabling legislation.

DACF then developed rules to define eligibility criteria, administrative procedures, evaluation criteria, and appeals procedures for programs administered by the PFAS Fund. These rules were finalized in March 2024.

The PFAS Fund is currently accepting inquiries from commercial farms for financial assistance and land purchases. It will initiate contracting for blood testing and mental health services during the summer of 2024 and anticipates issuing the first request for research proposals by the end of 2024.

How does the PFAS Fund intersect with the Department’s other PFAS response efforts?

DACF’s PFAS Response Program has been at the forefront of the Department’s response to the PFAS crisis. Staff assist impacted farms by conducting comprehensive testing to determine sources of exposure and the levels of PFAS in soil, water, forage, compost, manure, milk, and vegetative and animal tissue. They also work with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) to assess results and create mitigation plans to reduce contamination at the farm level, produce safe products, and enable farms to remain viable.

Both the PFAS Response Program and the PFAS Fund provide financial assistance to impacted commercial farmers.

Enabling Statute, Reports, & Other Documents

Advisory Committee Mission

The PFAS Fund Advisory Committee was established by statute to make recommendations to the Department regarding the administration of the Fund to Address PFAS Contamination. The Advisory Committee met for the first time in November 2022.

Public Meetings & Public Hearings

Subscribe to be notified about PFAS Fund updates, advisory committee meetings, and public hearings.

Questions may be directed to PFASFund.DACF@maine.gov.

Meetings & Hearings Schedule

Meeting Archive

Title	Date	Location	Additional Information
PFAS Fund Plan Draft Rule Making Public Hearing - Public Comment	January 16, 2024	Room 101 of the Deering Building, 90 Blossom Lane, Augusta and Zoom	Meeting Recording (YouTube) Rulemaking Fact Sheet (PDF) Chapter Rulemaking Drafts (PDF)
PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Public Hearing	January 11, 2024	Somerset Room, Augusta Civic Center at Agricultural Trades Show	10:00-11:30, PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Public Hearing: Join the PFAS Fund Advisory Committee and DACF staff to learn about-and help shapethe programs being supported by the PFAS Fund. You will hear how DACF has assisted PFAS-impacted farms to date and learn about the status of new programs being developed by the PFAS Fund, tentative timeframes for availability, and application processes. You will also be asked to share your ideas for research priorities and implementation strategies. Zoom link for the 10-11:30 session. 11:30-1:00, Meet the Staff: Staff from DACF's PFAS Response and PFAS Fund programs will be available for conversations about the Departments PFAS response activities. Meeting Recording (YouTube) PFAS Fund Presentation (PDF) PFAS Response Presentation (PDF)
PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Meeting	December 4, 2023	Zoom Only	This is a working meeting of the PFAS Fund Advisory Committee. Members of the public are welcome to observe in person or online. Kindly RSVP to PFASFund.DACF@maine.gov if you plan to come in person so that we can be sure to have enough chairs. Public comments will be taken at subsequent public hearings. Join Zoom Meeting Meeting Recording (YouTube) Agenda (PDF)
Public Comment: PFAS Fund Plan Draft Rule Making	November 29, 2023		Proposed Draft Rulemaking (PDF) Rulemaking Fact Sheet (DOCX)
PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Meeting	July 10, 2023	Marquardt Building, Room 118, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta, ME	Meeting Recording (YouTube) DRAFT - PFAS Fund Implementation Plan Version 4 (PDF) Summary of Public Comments (PDF) Meeting Presentation Slides (PDF)
PFAS Fund Draft Implementation Plan Public Hearing	June 12, 2023	Room 118 of the Marquardt Building, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta, ME and Zoom	Meeting Recording (YouTube) DRAFT - PFAS Fund Implementation Plan (PDF) Public hearing 6-12-23 Introductory Presentation (PDF) John ODonnell Public Comment (PDF) Leslie Forstadt Public Comment (PDF) MOFGA Public Comment (PDF) Maine Farmland Trust (PDF)
PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Meeting	May 10, 2023	Deering Building, Room 101, 90 Blossom Lane, Augusta, ME	Meeting Recording (YouTube) Agenda (PDF) Plan for Administration of the Fund to Address PFAS Contamination - Draft (PDF) Meeting Presentation Slides (PDF)
PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Meeting	May 1, 2023	Deering Building, Room 101, 90 Blossom Lane, Augusta, ME	Meeting Recording (YouTube) Agenda (PDF) Draft of PFAS Fund Implementation Plan (PDF) Meeting Presentation Slides (PDF)
PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Meeting	February 13, 2023	Marquardt Building, Room 118, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta, ME	Meeting Recording (YouTube) Agenda (PDF) Maine PFAS Screening Levels 6/28/21 (PDF) Definitions (PDF) DRAFT Report to Legislature (PDF) PFAS Land Sub-Committee (PDF) Health Sub-Committee (PDF) Financial and Business Support Subcommittee Report (PDF)
PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Public Hearing	January 11, 2023	Piscataquis/Sagadahoc Rooms, Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Drive, Augusta	Meeting Recording (YouTube)
PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Meeting	December 12, 2022	Room 101, Deering Building, 90 Blossom Lane, Augusta, ME	Meeting Recording (YouTube) Agenda (PDF) Discussion Guide - Setting Initial Priorities (PDF) Assessing PFAS in Agricultural Settings (PDF) Committee Presentation (PDF)
PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Meeting	November 14, 2022	Room 101, Deering Building, 90 Blossom Lane, Augusta, ME	Meeting Recording (YouTube) Agenda, Meeting Ground Rules, Draft Remote Meeting Policy (PDF) Minutes (PDF) Statute establishing the PFAS Fund and advisory committee (PDF) What the law says we may and must do (PDF) PFAS Emergency Relief Fund Handout (PDF) Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing and Clinical Follow-Up (NASEM 2022) (PDF) Findings and Recommendations for a PFAS Study Plan (DACF 2022) (PDF) Grant Funding for the Establishment of PFAS Laboratories in Maine (PDF) DEP Follow-up (PDF) Meeting Presentations PDFs (ZIP)

PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Members

The composition of the PFAS Fund Advisory Committee was established by statute.

Seat Number	Name	Additional Info
1	Stacy Brenner, Co-Chair	Member of the Senate; appointed by the President of the Senate
2	Rick Bennett	Member of the Senate; appointed by the President of the Senate
3	Jessica Fay, Co-Chair	Member of the House of Representatives; appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representative
4	Randy Hall	Member of the House of Representatives; appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representative
5	Amanda Beal	Commissioner of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry or the Commissioner’s designee
6	Melanie Loyzim	Commissioner of Maine Department of Environmental Protection or the Commissioner’s designee
7	Nancy Beardsley	Commissioner of Maine Department of Health and Human Services or the Commissioner’s designee
8	Diane Rowland	Dean of Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station or Dean of University of Maine Cooperative Extension; appointed by the President of the University of Maine
9	Sherry Hamel	Representing the financial sector; expertise in agricultural finance and lending; appointed by Commissioner of DACF
10	Jim Buckle	Representing the agricultural sector; appointed by Commissioner of DACF
11	Steve Crane	Representing the agricultural sector; appointed by Commissioner of DACF
12	Jenni Tilton Flood	Representing the agricultural sector; appointed by Commissioner of DACF
13	Katia Holmes	Representing the agricultural sector; appointed by Commissioner of DACF
14	Adrienne Lee	Representing the agricultural sector; appointed by Commissioner of DACF
15	Rebecca Boulos	Expert in public health; appointed by Commissioner of DACF

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Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry