Take Action to Protect Maine’s Water from Toxic Firefighting Foam

Update The Environment and Natural Resources Committee unanimously supported LD 222, LD 400, and LD 407, moving these important bills forward in the legislative process. Thank you to everyone who testified and helped make this happen! Stay tuned for updates and future action opportunities—we may need your voices again. Together, we’re making a difference for Casco Bay!

Action Alert: 3 Bills to Stop PFAS in Firefighting Foam

Maine’s environment—and our health—face serious risks from toxic PFAS-laden firefighting foam (AFFF). This February, the Maine Legislature will hold hearings on three important bills to reduce these threats and ensure safer management of AFFF across the state. Your voice is critical in supporting these measures!

What You Can Do:

Tell Maine legislators you support these bills by (1) submitting written testimony or (2) testifying live (via Zoom or in person) at the public hearing on Wednesday, February 26 at 10 a.m.

The Problem:
AFFF, laden with PFAS “forever chemicals,” pose serious and long-lasting risks to groundwater, marine life, air quality, soil, and public health. These outdated chemicals—increasingly restricted due to their harmful effects—have safer, effective alternatives.

In August 2024, Maine’s largest PFAS spill released 1,450 gallons of AFFF concentrate mixed with 50,000 gallons of water at Brunswick Landing, contaminating the Androscoggin River and Harpswell Cove. The long-term consequences for these waterways, and the communities that rely on them, are still being investigated.

Fire departments and other facilities storing AFFF face significant risks, with no safe disposal options currently in place.

The Solution:

The following three bills aim to establish a responsible collection and disposal program, reduce the risk of future spills, and protect both fire safety and our environment.

Reporting Requirement: LD 400: Resolve, Directing the Department of Public Safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal to Compile a Statewide Inventory of Aqueous Film-forming Foam Concentrate. This bill would require locations storing AFFF to report their inventories to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
Take-Back Program: LD 222: An Act to Establish a Take-Back and Disposal Program for Firefighting and Fire-suppressing Foam to Which Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Have Been Added. This bill would establish a collection system and safe storage site for AFFF until proper disposal can occur.
Brunswick Landing Cleanup by 2026: LD 407: An Act to Prohibit the Use of Aqueous Film-forming Foam at the Former Brunswick Naval Air Station. This bill would ensure the removal of all remaining AFFF from Brunswick Landing.

How to Take Action

Talking Points for Your Testimony

Share Your Story – If you live in Brunswick, downstream from the spill site, or have been impacted by PFAS or AFFF, your experience matters.
PFAS Poses Serious Health Risks – These chemicals have been linked to harmful effects on human health, including cancer, immune system suppression, and developmental issues. Maine must act now to remove AFFF and prevent further contamination.
PFAS Are Persistent and Widespread – PFAS break down very slowly and can remain in the environment for hundreds, and even thousands of years. They accumulate in water, air, soil, and living organisms, including people and wildlife. They have been detected across Maine and the world.
Protect Public Health – Mainers deserve safe drinking water and communities free from toxic chemicals.
Safeguard Maine’s Waterways – Clean water is essential to our way of life, fisheries, economy, and environment. Protecting it is our responsibility.
Safer Alternatives Exist – States like New Hampshire and Colorado have moved away from AFFF and created collection programs. Maine must do the same.

How to Submit Your Testimony

Click on the options below to read instructions on how to submit testimony via a written letter, Zoom, or in person. You can also watch our How to Submit Testimony video

Submit Written Testimony

Write your letter to the legislature. (See Talking Points and Sample Testimony below for ideas)
Go to the Testimony Submission page.
Select “Public Hearing” and choose the “Environment and Natural Resources Committee.”
Select the hearing date: February 26, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Pick these bills: LD 400, LD 222, or LD 407 Note: To have your testimony appear under all three bills, submit it separately for each. You can use the same letter for all three or write separate testimonies for each.
Upload or type your testimony letter directly into the form.
Enter your contact information into the form.
Hit Submit

Testify Live On Zoom

Draft your message to the legislature (See Talking Points and Sample Testimony below for ideas)
Go to the Testimony Submission page.
Select “Public Hearing” and choose the “Environment and Natural Resources Committee.”
Select the hearing date: February 26, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Pick one of these bills, LD 400, LD 222, or LD 407 Note: You only need to select one bill here–you may speak on all three bills during your live testimony.
Check the box for electronic testimony if attending via Zoom.
Optional: Upload or type your testimony letter directly into the form.
Enter your contact information into the form.
Hit Submit
On Wednesday, February 26 at 10 a.m. log onto Zoom using the link emailed to you by the Legislative Information Office.
When it is your turn, speak from your notes and from your heart!

Testify Live In Person

Write your message to the legislature (See Talking Points and Sample Testimony below for ideas)
Go to the Testimony Submission page.
Select “Public Hearing” and choose the “Environment and Natural Resources Committee.”
Select the hearing date: February 26, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Pick one of these bills, LD 400, LD 222, or LD 407 Note: You only need to select one bill here–you may speak on all three bills during your live testimony.
Do NOT enter your testimony into the form.
Enter your contact information into the form.
Hit Submit
Bring 20 printed copies of your testimony to the State House.
On Wednesday, February 26 at 10 a.m. go to the Burton M. Cross Office Building (The “Cross Building”), 111 Sewell Street, Augusta, Maine 04330, Room 216.
Hand in your 20 copies of testimony.
When it is your turn, speak from your notes and from your heart!

Celebrate!! You just acted for clean water!

Directions, Parking, & Bike Info:

The Environment and Natural Resources public hearings take place in the Burton M. Cross Office Building (Cross Building), 111 Sewell Street, Augusta, Maine 04330, Room 216.
Free public parking is available in front of the Cross Building. Observe any parking restriction signs.
Disability Parking spaces are located between the State House and the Cross Office Building.

Watch Our "How to Submit Testimony" Video

Sample Testimony

Here’s a sample of written testimony you can use to help you write your own:

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Date]

Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Maine Legislature

Re: Support fo LD 400 Reporting Requirement, LD 222: AFFF Take-Back Program, and LD 407 Brunswick Landing Cleanup by 2026.

Dear Chairperson Doudera and Members of the Committee,

My name is [Your Name], and I am [your connection to the issue, e.g., “a resident of Brunswick,” “a concerned Maine citizen,” “a firefighter,” or “a parent and community member”]. I am writing in strong support of LD 400, which seeks to establish reporting requirements for AFFF storage, LD 222, which creates a take-back program for AFFF to ensure safe collection, storage, and disposal, and LD 407, which ensures the removal of all remaining AFFF from Brunswick Landing by 2026.

Why This Matters
The August 2024 spill at Brunswick Landing was a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by AFFF. As you know, 1,450 gallons of AFFF concentrate mixed with 50,000 gallons of water leaked into the environment, contaminating Mere Brook, Harpswell Cove, and the Androscoggin River. This was not just the largest AFFF spill in Maine history—it was the sixth-largest in the nation.

The toxic PFAS chemicals in AFFF are known to persist in the environment indefinitely, posing significant risks to human health, wildlife, and water quality. Studies link PFAS exposure to serious health effects, including cancer, immune system suppression, and developmental issues in children. This threat is especially concerning for communities like mine, which rely on clean water for drinking, recreation, and livelihoods.

The Solutions Proposed in These Bills

LD 400 establishes a critical reporting system for locations storing AFFF, empowering the Maine DEP to monitor and address potential risks. LD 222 takes this one step further by creating a take-back program to safely collect and store AFFF until a safe disposal method is available. LD 407 ensures the removal of all remaining AFFF from Brunswick Landing by 2026, eliminating the risk of another major spill at this site. Together, these bills take a proactive approach to preventing future contamination and protecting Maine’s waterways.

My Personal Connection
[Optional: Include a personal story or connection to the issue. For example: “As a Brunswick resident and clammer, I witnessed the impact of the AFFF spill firsthand. The closure of Harpswell Cove not only disrupted my clamming work, but I’m also concerned about long-term contamination and my kids’ future on the coast of Maine.”]

Why I Support This Legislation

Protecting Public Health: Mainers deserve to live without fear of toxic chemicals in their drinking water and communities.
Environmental Stewardship: Maine’s waterways are central to our way of life. Ensuring they remain clean and healthy is not optional—it is a responsibility.
Proven Alternatives Exist: Other states, including New Hampshire and Colorado, have adopted safer alternatives and established collection programs. Maine can and should follow their lead.

In conclusion, LD 400, LD 222, and LD 407 are essential steps to safeguarding Maine’s environment, protecting public health, and ensuring responsible management of AFFF. I urge you to vote in favor of these bills and take action to prevent further harm from PFAS chemicals.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Title/Connection to the Issue, if applicable]