PFAS

Maine independent Sen. Angus King is part of a group of U.S. senators urging the Department of Defense to put a higher priority on addressing PFAS pollution on military bases.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will evaluate PFAS concentrations in Fairfield's drinking water, soil and local food sources, such as deer and fish.

The Department of Defense said it has evidence of PFAS contamination in the groundwater and soil of the Maine Air National Guard Base in Bangor. The likely source is Aqueous Film Forming Foam, a fire retardant the Air National Guard started using at the base in the 1970s.

The designation of these so-called "forever chemicals," is still subject to rulemaking, but could eventually require manufacturers to report spills and force some to pay for cleanup.

Recent testing shows at least seven schools have drinking water with PFAS levels higher than the state standard of 20 parts per trillion, according to Maine's latest report.

Several dozen businesses and trade groups are urging the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to delay new reporting requirements for products containing so-called "forever chemicals." But the new law's sponsor says companies that use PFAS had plenty of time to prepare.

State testing of public drinking water systems for PFAS, or "forever chemicals" has found at least six schools have levels higher than the state standard of 20 parts per trillion.

Speaking on Maine Calling on Tuesday, Frey said Maine the outside legal firms would help “expand the capacity” of his office as it pursues potential cases against PFAS manufacturers.

A federal loophole is keeping Mainers in the dark about which manufacturers are discharging PFAS in their waste as the state prepares to spend millions to address contamination.

U.S. Air Force engineers this summer will test more than 20 sites at the former Loring Air Force Base for so-called forever chemicals to ensure they have not spread since the base closed in 1994.