To: Members of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
From: Ania Wright, Political and Legislative Specialist
Date: February 15, 2023
Re: Testimony in Opposition to L.D. 188: An Act to Require the Department of Environmental Protection to Pay for Certain Water Tests for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances;
Senator Brenner, Representative Gramlich, and the members of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources,
I am testifying today on behalf of Sierra Club Maine, representing over 22,000 supporters and members statewide. Founded in 1892, Sierra Club is one of our nation’s oldest and largest environmental organizations. We work diligently to amplify the power of our 3.8 million members nation-wide as we work towards combating climate change and promoting a just and sustainable economy. To that end, we urge an “ought not to pass” report on L.D. 188: An Act to Require the Department of Environmental Protection to Pay for Certain Water Tests for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.
We oppose this bill because it creates government responsibility for private entity actions. Last legislative session, the Legislature passed LD 1911, which “require(s) a person licensed by the department to discharge wastewater to groundwater or any waters of the State to sample the effluent discharged for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and to report the sample data to the department”. The state is currently able to support 105 Publicly Owned Treatment Facilities (POTWs) using Maine Jobs and Recovery Funds. The funds are not applicable to industry owned treatment facilities.
The state continues to spend millions of dollars to address the PFAS crisis, but it is vital to remember that this crisis did not come from the state. It came from private industries that continue to advocate that they should not be held financially responsible. Passing L.D. 188, would set a precedent that the State should bear the financial burden of a crisis caused by industry.
To that end, we urge the committee to unanimously oppose LD 188.
Sincerely,
Ania Wright --
Political and Legislative Specialist
Sierra Club Maine Chapter