Government and Politics
October 8, 2022
From: Maine Governor Janet MillsAugusta, ME - The Mills Administration has named Elizabeth (Beth) Fuller Valentine as the new PFAS Fund Director and announced the list of appointed members to serve on the newly established PFAS Fund Advisory Committee. The $60 million PFAS Fund, proposed by Governor Mills and passed by the State Legislature, will provide direct relief to Maine farmers impacted by PFAS contamination.
"Having a strong and dedicated leader to manage Maine's robust response to PFAS contamination is critically important," said Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Commissioner Amanda Beal. "Beth is uniquely qualified to work with the PFAS Advisory Committee to establish criteria for the PFAS Fund and to oversee the implementation of a suite of programs to support impacted farmers."
Valentine has worked as an attorney at Jackson and MacNichol in South Portland and with the Maine Community Law Center in Portland. She also previously worked with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation/Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Valentine's long-standing interest in agriculture and food systems also led to her participating in the Sustainable Food Leadership Institute and to contributing to the Conservation Law Foundation's New England Food Policy: Building a Sustainable Food System publication. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in Biology from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY; a Master of Art in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI; and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maine School of Law in Portland.
Valentine, who joined the DACF in September, will oversee the administration and coordination of the PFAS Fund, work with the PFAS Advisory Committee, and lead planning to establish funding priorities and implement the program(s) to allocate funds.
"I am excited to be working with DACF and the members of the PFAS Advisory Committee," said Director Valentine. "My goal for the Fund and its programs is to provide meaningful support to farmers impacted by PFAS contamination and to boost funding for critical research to, among other things, develop remediation strategies to address PFAS contamination where it is found."
The PFAS Fund was established through Governor Mills' Fiscal Year 2023 supplemental budget, which was approved by the Legislature in the last session, to address PFAS contamination of agricultural land through a suite of programs and approaches that may include:
On Oct 5th, the Mills Administration also announced the following fifteen individuals will serve as members of the PFAS Fund Advisory Committee:
"PFAS contamination is a major issue for Mainers, especially our farmers. Thankfully, Maine is leading the way in addressing this problem head-on," said Sen. Stacy Brenner, who co-owns and operates Broadturn Farm. "I'm incredibly proud of all the work the Maine legislature accomplished this session to stop the proliferation and spread of PFAS and invest in PFAS mitigation - including the PFAS fund."
"Maine is on the leading edge of the nationwide PFAS contamination crisis. A big part of that must be addressing farmer needs," said Rep. Jessica Fay. "Affected Maine farmers' livelihoods and well-being are of the greatest importance. This process will take time and patience, but an excellent team with diverse knowledge and backgrounds is committed to the work."
The PFAS Fund Advisory Committee was assembled following the representation requirements described in LD 2013. The PFAS Fund Advisory Committee will meet for orientation in October 2022 and begin holding regular working meetings in November.
Under the leadership of the Governor, Maine established a PFAS Task Force in early 2019 and has since taken decisive action to address PFAS contamination, including:
Under the Mills Administration, Maine has dedicated more than $100 million over the past two years to address PFAS impacts on Maine's farmers and communities.