L'Mainerque | Taken from the waterfront nearby, this is a view of the eastern end of the Main Street in Richmond, Maine. | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Main_Street_of_Richmond,_Maine.jpg | Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication | https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en
In 2016 and 2020, test results from dairy farms in Maine showed elevated levels of PFAS in the soil, drinking water, and milk and beef products. A potential source of the PFAS is fertilizer which the dairies obtained through a state-licensed reuse program.
Some believe Sappi North America is to blame for the spread of PFAS through their use of water-resistant compostable paper for food packaging at their Somerset Mill. The byproducts of this process were allegedly discharged into nearby groundwater and surface water and used to create a sludge that was distributed as fertilizer.
In December 2020, residents of Fairfield, Maine were advised to use bottled water. Residential water sources were tested and yielded PFAS levels higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory limit of 70 parts per trillion.
For example, on January 13, 2021, test results from Nathan Saunders’ private drinking water well showed PFAS levels at 12,910 parts per trillion. Following the test results, on March 5, 2021, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Sappi North America. Among other things, the lawsuit requested compensation for property damage, diminution in property value, and damage to loss of use and enjoyment of the properties.