Read the full article by Ethan Genter (Vinyard Gazette)

“When the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School looks to overhaul its campus in Oak Bluffs, it will have one less option when it comes to athletic fields. 

The Oak Bluffs board of health Tuesday banned the installation of artificial turf playing surfaces in town, quietly shutting the door on one of the Island’s most divisive issues. The board, which had pondered issuing a moratorium on artificial playing surfaces for nearly two years, said its decision was done to protect water quality from harmful and long-lasting chemicals known as PFAS.

‘It was basically all about water quality,’ said board member Tom Zinno. 

The ban extends to all artificial turf fields of any size in town, though it could be lifted if a reasonable alternative to products with PFAS was approved by the board of health.” …