Senator Collins Urges USDA Secretary to Help Dairy Farmers Affected by PFAS

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to request an update on the efforts being taken to protect dairy farmers from harmful PFAS chemicals. 

PFAS contamination from wastewater sludge that was spread as fertilizer has prevented some Maine farms from selling their products, creating financial hardship for these family farmers and concern among the broader dairy community. 

On October 18, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its PFAS Strategic Roadmap, which details planned actions for that Agency’s work to address PFAS, but it does not address how USDA will assist farmers who have been affected by PFAS contamination.

“I raised this issue with you before your confirmation, and again during a Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in June 2021,” Senator Collins wrote.  “During these conversations, you assured me that PFAS contamination is a high priority for USDA.  Some press reports indicate that USDA is considering changes to the Dairy Indemnity Program to make it easier for farms to recover following the discovery of PFAS, but there has been no action taken thus far.  I am seeking an update from you about USDA’s plans to assist farmers who have experienced PFAS contamination, and how USDA’s actions may fit within EPA’s Roadmap.”

“I look forward to receiving this information on behalf of farmers in Maine and across the country whose livelihoods have been disrupted due to PFAS contamination,” Senator Collins continued.

PFAS are a class of man-made chemicals—sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals”—that can bioaccumulate in bodies over time.  They are traditionally found in food packaging, nonstick pans, clothing, furniture, and firefighting foam and have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage, decreased fertility, and hormone disruption.  

In 2016, a dairy farmer in Arundel discovered that the milk produced on his farm contained some of the highest levels ever reported for a PFAS contaminant.  In 2020, a dairy farm in Fairfield found PFAS levels in its milk were 153 times higher than the Maine standard for determining whether it was fit for sale.

At an Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in June, Senator Collins urged Secretary Vilsack to take action to support dairy farmers who have been harmed by PFAS contamination.  Additionally, Senator Collins recently secured $1.6 million in the draft Fiscal Year 2022 Interior Appropriations Bill to support the installation of a PFAS treatment system in Madison.  The facility would accept and treat contaminated manure from dairy farms across the state.

Click HERE to read Senator Collins’ letter.

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