An Act to Protect Private Wells from Hazardous Substances
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2115
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: ANKELES, DAUGHTRY
Amends: 38 MRSA §1310-B

Legislative Document
No. 2115
H.P. 1430
House of Representatives, January 7, 2026
An Act to Protect Private Wells from Hazardous Substances
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative ANKELES of Brunswick.
Cosponsored by Representatives: ARFORD of Brunswick, GOLEK of Harpswell, Senators: 
President DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, INGWERSEN of York, TEPLER of Sagadahoc.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  38 MRSA §1310-B-1, as amended by PL 2021, c. 641, §§6 to 8, is further 
amended to read:
§1310-B-1.  Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Well Contamination 
Response Fund
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Fund" means the Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Well Contamination 
Response Fund under subsection 2.
B.  "Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" or "PFAS" has the same meaning 
as in Title 32 38, section 1732 1614, subsection 5‑A 1, paragraph F.
2.  Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Well Contamination Response 
Fund.  The Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Well Contamination Response 
Fund is established to be used by the department as a nonlapsing, revolving fund to test and 
monitor soil and groundwater private drinking water wells for PFAS and other 
contaminants and for other related activities, including, but not limited to, abating, 
remediating or mitigating identified contamination and the effects of such contamination 
through the provision of access to safe drinking water, the installation and maintenance of 
filter treatment systems, connection to local water district networks, the provision of bottled 
drinking water or other actions.
A.  The fund may accept revenue from any source, public or private, that may be 
available for carrying out the purposes of the fund.  The department shall deposit with 
the Treasurer of State to the credit of the fund money in the fund not currently needed 
by the department to carry out the purposes of the fund, which may be invested as 
provided by law.  Interest earned on investment of money under this paragraph must 
be credited to the fund.
B.  The department may transfer money in the fund in excess of the amounts the 
department anticipates to be necessary to carry out the purposes of the fund to the 
Uncontrolled Sites Fund under section 1364, subsection 6 for the purposes of testing, 
monitoring or treating land contaminated by PFAS.
C.  Beginning January 15, 2023 2027, and every 2 years thereafter, the department shall 
submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over environment and natural resources matters regarding the uses of the fund and a 
summary of contamination identified.  After reviewing the report, the joint standing 
committee may report out legislation related to the report.
4.  Rules.  The board may adopt rules necessary for the administration of the fund and 
any underlying program or purpose under or funded by the fund.  Rules adopted by the 
board must include provisions for determining the eligibility of private drinking water wells 
impacted by hazardous substances, including PFAS, for funding for testing, remediation, 
the installation and maintenance of filter treatment systems, connection to local water 
district networks and the provision of bottled drinking water regardless of when the testing, 
remediation, installation or maintenance, connection or provision occurred.  Under the 
rules, funding appropriated for private drinking water wells must be prioritized based on 
the proximity of the well to a discharge of a hazardous substance or landfill leachate or to 
the spreading of sludge.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical 
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF
Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Fund Z325
Initiative: Transfers funding in the Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Fund within 
the Department of Environmental Protection to the newly created Well Contamination 
Response Fund in the same department to reflect a change in fund name.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
($500)
($500)
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
($500)
($500)
Well Contamination Response Fund N560
Initiative: Transfers funding in the Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Fund within 
the Department of Environmental Protection to the newly created Well Contamination 
Response Fund in the same department to reflect a change in fund name.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$500
$500
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$500
$500
Well Contamination Response Fund N560
Initiative: Provides funding for private drinking water wells impacted by hazardous 
substances, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Funding may be used 
for testing, remediation, the installation and maintenance of filter treatment systems, 
connection to local water district networks and the provision of bottled drinking water.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$0
$1,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$1,000,000
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2025-26
2026-27
GENERAL FUND
$0
$1,000,000
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
$0
$0
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$0
$1,000,000
SUMMARY
This bill changes the name of the Land Application Contaminant Monitoring Fund to 
the Well Contamination Response Fund and changes the activities for which funding may 
be used. It provides funding for private drinking water wells impacted by hazardous 
substances, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Funding may be used 
for testing, remediation, the installation and maintenance of filter treatment systems, 
connection to local water district networks and the provision of bottled drinking water.  The 
bill also directs the Department of Environmental Protection to determine eligibility 
requirements for the funding through rulemaking.