On February 18, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic Butchko submitted a letter of information to the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee on SB 732 – Sewage Sludge Utilization Permits – Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances – Concentration Limits.
This bill places new limitations on the use of certain byproducts from wastewater treatment processing that meet certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) thresholds.
MACo is currently in discussions with the sponsor, advocates, and the Department of the Environment on amendments to address local concerns and ease the pressures on local taxpayers. Counties stand ready to partner with the committee and others to address the challenges of PFAS, without unduly burdening local ratepayers and taxpayers.
SB 732 would limit the use of biosolids based on certain PFAS thresholds. As the primary operators of nearly all public infrastructure in Maryland, counties stand on the front line in mitigating the growing number of health threats resulting from PFAS contamination. One of the growing challenges with mitigation is deciding who will ultimately bear the financial responsibility: at-large taxpayers or culpable polluters.
SB 732’s cross-file, HB 909, was heard on February 26 in the House Environment and Transportation Committee. Dominic Butchko submitted a letter of information for this bill.
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