In a bipartisan, bicarmeral effort to provide vital assistance to farmers affected by toxic “forever chemicals,” also kown as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has reintroduced the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act. The legislation would authorize grants for states to provide financial assistance to affected farmers, expand monioring and testing, remediate PFAS, or even help farmers relocate. Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) is one of the original cosponsors of the legislation.
PFAS are man-made chemicals that are used in industry and consumer products and can lead to serious health effects, including cancer, reproductive and developmental harms and weakened immmune systems. In Maine, there have been more than 30,000 records of PFAS at close to 250 sites across the state. Maine farmers have had their livelihoods disrupted due to PFAS contamination, which orginated in sludge that was spread as fertilizer by farmers who were told by the government that it was safe to use.
Specifically, the funds authorized by the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act could be used for a variety of purposes at the state level, including:
Providing financial assistance to affected farmers; building capacity for PFAS testing for soil or water sources; monitoring blood for individuals to make informed decisions about their health; upgrading or purchasing equipment to ensure a farm remains profitable during or after known PFAS contamination; developing alternative production systems or remediation strategies; developing educational programs for farmers experiencing PFAS contamination; and researching soil and water remediation systems, and the viability of those systems for farms.
The bill would also create a task force at USDA charged with identifying other USDA programs to which PFAS contamination should be added as an eligible activity. This would help bring even more resources to farmers through existing programs. Additionally, the task force would provide technical assistance to states to help them coordinate their responses effectively.
“The PFAS crisis isn’t some theoretical or distant problem. It’s here, it’s growing and itd’s putting real pressure on farmers in Maine and across the country,” said Pingree, a longtime farmer and senior member of the House Agriculture Committee. “For farmers lready navigating thin margins, discovering forever chemicals on their land can mean lost income, unusable land, and quesions about the safety of their crops and livestock. They deserve federal support that matches the scale of the crisis. Our Relief for Famers Hit with PFAS creates a dedicated USDA program to test for contamination, compensate affected farmers, and advance the research and remediation strategies we need to protect our food supply and rural economies. This bill is a critical step in giving farmers the tools to safeguard their operations while federal and state agencies work to fully confront PFAS.”
“Maine farmers, residents and policy makers are leading the country on tackling PFAS contamination in our food and water,” said Sarah Alexander, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). “Maine has created essential policies to help farmers who have suffered consequences of forever chemicals through no fault of their own.”
“PFAS contamination poses a significant threat to our farms, wildlife and food” said Rebecca Meuninck, Ph.D Great Lakes regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation. “Farmers are being put out of business because they unknowingly spread biosolide containing PFAS on their land or had their water contaminated from neighborhing mililtary or industrial sites. The reintroduction of this legislation is a big step forward in supporting farmers and ensuring their resilience against the impacts of PFAS.”