Read the full article by Penelope Overton (Press Herald)
“The Maine economy will shrink and major employers may leave if state lawmakers do not change a first-in-the-country law that will ban the sale of non-essential products containing harmful forever chemicals in 2030, according to the Maine Chamber of Commerce.
On Monday, Chamber President Patrick Woodcock urged lawmakers to eliminate the section of the 2021 law requiring companies to start notifying the state next year if their products contain PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, and expand the list of industries exempted from the eventual 2030 ban.
In a news briefing, Woodcock called the state’s existing PFAS law well-intentioned but unworkable.
‘There is universal recognition that this statute needs to change,’ Woodcock said. When asked what will happen if the law remains unchanged, he said: ‘If this statute is not amended this session, there will be a complete rethinking of the long-term relationship with the state of Maine for some key employers.'” …