LD 222

LD 222 will set up a safe disposal program for firefighting foam, allowing public and private entities to store this toxic firefighting foam in a secure location until proper disposal techniques are available. We hope this will prevent another toxic spill like the one in Brunswick that happened last year.

In August of 2024, the former military base in Brunswick was the site of the largest toxic foam spill in Maine’s history and the 6th largest in the U.S. Toxic aqueous film forming firefighting foam (AFFF) spilled out from the facility, contaminating nearby drinking water wells and the surrounding environment. 

In the wake of the spill, community members were frustrated that the toxic foam was still stored at the facility in the wake of a 2021 state law that required manufacturers to recall stores of AFFF in Maine, as well as by the lack of communication from the Maine Midcoast Redevelopment Authority (MMRA) and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). 

In response to this spill and resulting concerns, Rep. Dan Ankeles worked with a bipartisan group of legislators and advocates on legislation to prevent this from happening in the future by setting up a voluntary safe disposal program. The legislation had broad bipartisan support both in the committee and in the full legislature. There was no opposition to the bill during the hearing, with several Brunswick community members, environmental groups, firefighters, and city and state officials testifying about the need of a safe disposal program to protect other communities.