A state agency announced Friday that it has acquired a former farm in Unity that was found to be highly contaminated with “forever chemicals.”
The property, which operated as Songbird Farm, became the national face of PFAS contamination in Maine in 2021 after the soil, well water, and the blood of the couple who owned the farm tested at hundreds of times the recommended levels of the toxic chemicals.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been strongly linked to health problems such as liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, high cholesterol, obesity, hormone suppression and cancer. The contamination likely occurred when the farm was licensed for the spreading of sludge in the early 1990s, the farmers said.
Similar contamination has popped up around the state in soil, groundwater, and waterways, particularly in central Maine.
The state Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental and Geographic Analysis Database maintains a map of sites where sludge has been spread, which may indicate the location of PFAS contamination.
Maine Farmland Trust bought the former Songbird property in 2023 stating that it hoped to find partners to study the contamination.
Brett Sykes, co-director of farmland protection at Maine Farmland Trust said farmers like Songbird’s Johanna Davis and Adam Nordell “needed help urgently” and the trust “was in a position where we could act quickly and contribute what we learned from the process.”
This week’s purchase by the state was made through the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Fund to Address PFAS Contamination, established in 2022.
PFAS Fund Director Beth Valentine said the group is “approaching the future of this property thoughtfully and carefully.”
“While no final plans have been established, the property may help support ongoing research and learning that could benefit Maine farmers and agricultural communities facing PFAS-related challenges,” Valentine said.
Separately, Maine DACF’s PFAS Response Program is working with 127 impacted sites of varying sizes, “providing testing, financial assistance, and technical support to help farmers make informed decisions and continue operating safely.”
