Maine farmers, advocates cheer federal action to clean up forever chemicals

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 26, 2022

On Friday, many in Maine welcomed the news from federal environmental regulators that two of the chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, may soon be designated hazardous substances by the Environmental Protection Agency. It is the first step in a regulatory process that could unlock millions of dollars to pay for cleanup and remediation and hold polluters accountable for the costs under what is most commonly known as the federal superfund law. The designation is a landmark development for environmental advocates, who have warned about the long-lasting effects of PFAS compounds, which have been used for decades in a vast array of consumer goods.