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PFAS in sewage sludge draws sharp testimony as Maryland considers limits on land application
Summary
House Bill 909 would require testing and set limits for PFAS in biosolids prior to land application; environmental and community groups urged strict caps and rapid action, while wastewater utilities and counties warned of high costs and operational limits and asked for staged implementation and source-control provisions.
House Bill 909 would require testing of biosolids for PFAS and set concentration limits on PFAS in biosolids before those materials could be land-applied as fertilizer. Testimony on Feb. 26 drew starkly different perspectives from environmental advocates, local residents, farmers, compost/biogas technology vendors and wastewater utilities.
Advocates and residents argued land application spreads “forever” PFAS chemicals into soils, food and groundwater. Brent Wallace of Upper Potomac Riverkeeper said farmers and communities are now asking whether sludge applications have contaminated soils and wells. Environmental lawyers and groups urged limits aligned with EPA caution and said the state should adopt conservative…
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