Maryland Implements PFAS Limits on Sewage Sludge Amid Perdue Farms Lawsuit

Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed Senate Bill 719 and House Bill 925, establishing limits on the concentration of PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) in sewage sludge applied to farmland. Sludge containing 25 parts per billion (ppb) or more may be land‑applied only with alternate management measures, source tracking and a state‑approved mitigation plan, while material with 50 ppb or more is prohibited from agricultural use beginning 1 October 2027. The law also directs the Maryland Department of the Environment to develop monitoring protocols and to strengthen control of industrial PFAS discharges before they reach wastewater treatment plants.

In Salisbury, Maryland, families affected by alleged PFAS contamination linked to Perdue Farms have asked U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher to sanction the poultry company after it withdrew from a scheduled mediation just days before the deadline. The plaintiffs claim Perdue’s wastewater discharged elevated PFAS into a nearby stream and surrounding fields, and they seek reimbursement for legal costs incurred while preparing for the mediation. The dispute highlights ongoing community concerns over the health and environmental impacts of “forever chemicals.”