An Act protecting our soil, farms and food from PFAS contamination
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Create an account to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill aims to protect Massachusetts’ soil, farms, and food from PFAS contamination, primarily through addressing the issue of sewage sludge. It directs the Department of Environmental Protection to investigate PFAS levels in sewage sludge, develop a statewide master plan for sludge management, and establish grant programs to assist farmers and wastewater treatment facilities in reducing sludge toxicity and volume. The bill also includes provisions to limit the sale of fertilizer derived from biosolids and provides financial relief to farmers impacted by PFAS contamination.
Key provisions
- Requires the Department of Environmental Protection to investigate PFAS contamination in sewage sludge.
- Mandates the development of a statewide master plan for sludge processing and disposal, including technical assistance for POTWs.
- Establishes a grant program to aid farmers in researching and implementing PFAS reduction practices.
- Prohibits the sale and distribution of fertilizer derived from or containing biosolids.
- Creates an Agricultural PFAS Relief Fund to compensate farmers for losses related to PFAS contamination.
- Provides immunity from lawsuits for farmers regarding PFAS contamination of soil, water, livestock, or agricultural products under certain conditions.
- Includes regulations to restrict the use of biosolids on land.
- Establishes a fund to reimburse cities and towns for increased costs associated with sludge disposal.
Who is affected
Bill text
Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
Text extraction is in progress. View the official source.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
36 on record
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries
Cosponsors
Adrianne Pusateri Ramos
Amy Mah Sangiolo
Carmine Lawrence Gentile
Arguments
Reasons offered for and against this legislation.
Arguments in favor
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yours