Sewage Sludge Utilization Permits - Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances - Concentration Limits

SB 732 sets new limits on harmful chemicals (PFOS and PFOA) in sewage sludge applied to farmland in Maryland. Permits for land application must limit these chemicals to the lowest of three levels: 1 microgram per kilogram, the U.S. EPA’s health-based standard, or a level set by Maryland’s environmental agency. Permit holders must prove compliance through independent lab testing of the sludge within 14 days before application, unless sludge is transported directly to fields without storage. The Maryland Department of the Environment can also establish stricter limits or additional restrictions for other similar chemicals in future regulations.