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	"version": "1.0",
	"provider_name": "Action Network",
	"provider_url": "https://actionnetwork.org",
	
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	"author_name": "Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)",
	"author_url": "https://actionnetwork.org/groups/maine-organic-farmers-and-gardeners-association-mofga",
	"title": "EPA - Take Action on PFAS",
	"thumbnail_url": "https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/letters/photos/000/334/409/normal/FN_UiAjWQAM64-Y-1.jpg",
	"description": "In Maine we have seen first hand the effect of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination on farmers. As of January 2024, at least 59 Maine farms, both conventional and organic, have been found to be contaminated with PFAS. To date, the primary source of this contamination has been traced to the use of biosolids and paper mill sludges, either applied to farmland as soil amendments or “disposed of” by spreading on fields. The continued use of biosolids as fertilizers is contributing to widespread contamination of soil, water, and food supplies with PFAS, posing significant risks to public health and the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must take action to ban the land application of biosolids under the Clean Water Act. Under the Clean Water Act provision enacted in 1987, the EPA must biennially identify toxic pollutants in biosolids and adopt regulations to prevent harm. Despite identifying over 250 pollutants in the past 35 years, the EPA has promulgated only nine sewage sludge regulations for land application. This regulatory inaction is unacceptable given the mounting evidence of PFAS contamination from biosolids. The EPA’s own proposed drinking water levels acknowledge that there is no safe level in drinking water for at least two types of PFAS found in biosolids. These substances are known to accumulate in humans and animals, leading to severe health effects, including cancer, liver damage, and immune system dysfunction. Every application of biosolids increases PFAS levels in soils and waters, exacerbating the contamination problem. It is imperative that the EPA take immediate action to ban the land application of biosolids to prevent further PFAS contamination. The health and safety of the public, as well as the integrity of our environment, depend on the EPA fulfilling its legal and ethical responsibilities.",
	"url": "https://actionnetwork.org/letters/epa-take-action-on-pfas"
}