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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
SECOND REGULAR SESSION-2026
Legislative Document No. 2115
H.P. 1430 House of Representatives, January 7, 2026
An Act to Protect Private Wells from Hazardous Substances
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule
203.
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative ANKELES of Brunswick.
Cosponsored by Representatives: ARFORD of Brunswick, GOLEK of Harpswell, Senators:
President DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, INGWERSEN of York, TEPLER of Sagadahoc.
Page 1 - 132LR2820(01)
1Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1310-B-1, as amended by PL 2021, c. 641, §§6 to 8, is further
3 amended to read:
4§1310-B-1. Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Well Contamination
5Response Fund
61. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the
7 following terms have the following meanings.
8 A. "Fund" means the Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Well Contamination
9 Response Fund under subsection 2.
10 B. "Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" or "PFAS" has the same meaning
11 as in Title 32 38, section 1732 1614, subsection 5‑A 1, paragraph F.
122. Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Well Contamination Response
13Fund. The Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Well Contamination Response
14 Fund is established to be used by the department as a nonlapsing, revolving fund to test and
15 monitor soil and groundwater private drinking water wells for PFAS and other
16 contaminants and for other related activities, including, but not limited to, abating,
17 remediating or mitigating identified contamination and the effects of such contamination
18 through the provision of access to safe drinking water, the installation and maintenance of
19 filter treatment systems, connection to local water district networks, the provision of bottled
20 drinking water or other actions.
21 A. The fund may accept revenue from any source, public or private, that may be
22 available for carrying out the purposes of the fund. The department shall deposit with
23 the Treasurer of State to the credit of the fund money in the fund not currently needed
24 by the department to carry out the purposes of the fund, which may be invested as
25 provided by law. Interest earned on investment of money under this paragraph must
26 be credited to the fund.
27 B. The department may transfer money in the fund in excess of the amounts the
28 department anticipates to be necessary to carry out the purposes of the fund to the
29 Uncontrolled Sites Fund under section 1364, subsection 6 for the purposes of testing,
30 monitoring or treating land contaminated by PFAS.
31 C. Beginning January 15, 2023 2027, and every 2 years thereafter, the department shall
32 submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction
33 over environment and natural resources matters regarding the uses of the fund and a
34 summary of contamination identified. After reviewing the report, the joint standing
35 committee may report out legislation related to the report.
364. Rules. The board may adopt rules necessary for the administration of the fund and
37 any underlying program or purpose under or funded by the fund. Rules adopted by the
38 board must include provisions for determining the eligibility of private drinking water wells
39 impacted by hazardous substances, including PFAS, for funding for testing, remediation,
40 the installation and maintenance of filter treatment systems, connection to local water
41 district networks and the provision of bottled drinking water regardless of when the testing,
42 remediation, installation or maintenance, connection or provision occurred. Under the
43 rules, funding appropriated for private drinking water wells must be prioritized based on
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44 the proximity of the well to a discharge of a hazardous substance or landfill leachate or to
45 the spreading of sludge. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical
46 rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
4Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
5 allocations are made.
6ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF
7Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Fund Z325
8 Initiative: Transfers funding in the Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Fund within
9 the Department of Environmental Protection to the newly created Well Contamination
10 Response Fund in the same department to reflect a change in fund name.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
All Other ($500) ($500)
__________ __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL ($500) ($500)
11Well Contamination Response Fund N560
16 Initiative: Transfers funding in the Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Fund within
17 the Department of Environmental Protection to the newly created Well Contamination
18 Response Fund in the same department to reflect a change in fund name.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $500 $500
__________ __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $500 $500
19Well Contamination Response Fund N560
24 Initiative: Provides funding for private drinking water wells impacted by hazardous
25 substances, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Funding may be used
26 for testing, remediation, the installation and maintenance of filter treatment systems,
27 connection to local water district networks and the provision of bottled drinking water.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $0 $1,000,000
__________ __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $1,000,000
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2025-26 2026-27
GENERAL FUND $0 $1,000,000
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $0 $0
__________ __________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $0 $1,000,000
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1SUMMARY
2 This bill changes the name of the Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Fund to
3 the Well Contamination Response Fund and changes the activities for which funding may
4 be used. It provides funding for private drinking water wells impacted by hazardous
5 substances, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Funding may be used
6 for testing, remediation, the installation and maintenance of filter treatment systems,
7 connection to local water district networks and the provision of bottled drinking water. The
8 bill also directs the Department of Environmental Protection to determine eligibility
9 requirements for the funding through rulemaking.
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