Deborah Beaton | Oppose HB1275

This bill is very detrimental to our farm land and water and farmers. All we have to do is look at Maine with all the farmers who can no longer sell their milk. Because the sludge that spread contained alot of PFA'S and other contaminents, industrial waste and pharmacuticals. . Because their cattle grazed the land that had sludge spread upon it. They can no longer sell hay or vegetables. The farm land that has been in their families for generations can no be used to support itself. The PFA'S have ruined their livelihoods. It is hard enough for our famers to earn a living without putting them out of business totally. People rely on these farmers for their food whether it ends up in the grocery store or a roadside vegetable stand. No amount of PFA"S is safe period. We have enough of it contaminating us in other area's we do not need it coming from sludge spread on farm land. Over 60 Maine farms have faced ruin due to high levels of PFAS ("forever chemicals") in soil and water, stemming from the decades-long, state-sanctioned practice of spreading municipal sewage sludge as fertilizer. Farmers like Adam Nordell and Fred Stone saw their livelihoods destroyed as contaminants contaminated crops, wells, and cattle, resulting in farm shutdowns and toxic, unusable land. Key Impacts and Details: Contamination Source: Municipal sewage sludge, or "biosolids," often contained industrial waste loaded with PFAS, which was used as a cheap, nutrient-rich fertilizer. Victims: Songbird Farm in Unity was abandoned after discovering high levels of contamination. Dairy farmer Fred Stone in Arundel was forced to shut down after his milk was tainted. Health and Financial Crisis: The contamination caused a "complete crisis," ruining land value, destroying businesses, and raising health concerns due to tainted food and water. Please I urge you to please vote no to this very important bill.