Following cases of contamination of milk from dairy cows grazing on fields fertilized with municipal sludge, the Maine legislature will ban application of the product.  Sewage sludge contains a number of chemicals including per- and polyfluroalkyl substances (PFAS) that do not undergo biodegradation and accumulate in soil and water leading to intake by grazing livestock with resulting contamination of milk.

Following the initial cases, environmental regulators in Maine tested numerous dairy farms, some of which have suspended operations because of high levels of PFAS in soil or water.  Although the Maine House voted 81 to 52 to approve the bill, further changes will be required to satisfy individual legislators.  The Senate has yet to consider the bill that has wide support.

The action by Maine could represent a bellwether for other states that will introduce restrictions on application of sewage sludge and related product.  This creates opportunities for treated layer manure that is currently in demand given the high price of chemical fertilizers.