AUGUSTA – Last month, a proposal from Rep. Dan Shagoury, D-Hallowell, to align Maine’s drinking water maximum contaminant levels for PFAS, or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, with the current levels set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) became law.
“I put this bill in to make sure that the new, stronger EPA limits on PFAS in drinking water were mirrored in state law,” said Shagoury. “I'm very glad that I did, since the federal government has now decided that they don't think it is their job to put new limits on forever chemicals. This bill should give Mainers more confidence that their public drinking water is safe.”
Current drinking water standards for PFAS in Maine are 20 parts per trillion. This new law replaces that standard with the current federal EPA standard of four parts per trillion. It also establishes monitoring and reporting requirements, as well as a requirement of public notice for each type and total level of PFAS detected.
Shagoury is serving his second term in the Maine House and represents the communities of Hallowell, Manchester and West Gardiner. He is a member of the Health and Human Services Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Shagoury) | 305-965-2744