Maine House Bill LD407

Maine 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/4/25
• Engrossed: 5/13/25
• Enrolled: 5/14/25
• Passed: 5/21/25

Caption

Resolve, to Ensure the Removal of Aqueous Film-forming Foam from the Former Brunswick Naval Air Station

Summary

LD 407 is a resolve directing the Brunswick Naval Air Station Redevelopment Authority to take specific steps to remove aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, from property it owns or leases at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. The measure sets deadlines for shutting off any fire suppression systems that can dispense AFFF, removing any loose AFFF or concentrate from the property, securing funding to fully purge affected systems, and completing that purge so no AFFF residue remains. The resolve defines AFFF as a fluorinated fire suppressant used for flammable liquid fires. Its practical effect is to require the authority to eliminate ongoing use and storage of this foam at the former base and to complete remediation of the associated fire suppression systems by the end of 2026. The bill was enacted as a resolve and became Chapter 33 of the 2025 Resolves.

Impact

LD 407 affects the Brunswick Naval Air Station Redevelopment Authority and the management of fire suppression infrastructure on property it owns or leases. It does not broadly amend Maine’s general statutes, but it imposes legally binding deadlines and cleanup obligations on the authority to stop AFFF release, remove stored foam, obtain funding for remediation, and purge systems of AFFF residue. The measure is targeted to a specific redevelopment site and is intended to reduce environmental and public health risks associated with PFAS-related firefighting foam.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests strong overall support for the bill. The House vote on the amended report was 128-14, indicating broad bipartisan agreement with only limited opposition. No committee transcript is available, but the final enactment and large margin of passage suggest the bill was viewed favorably as a cleanup and safety measure.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to have been the cost and feasibility of fully purging AFFF from existing fire suppression systems and securing the necessary funding by mid-2026. Any opposition likely centered on the burden placed on the redevelopment authority, the timeline for compliance, or the expense of replacing or remediating specialized fire suppression equipment. Even so, the overwhelming vote indicates these concerns did not prevent passage.