Maine § 2660-W. - Private Well Safe Drinking Water Fund

§ 2660-W.. Private Well Safe Drinking Water Fund

1.  Fund established.  The Private Well Safe Drinking Water Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the department as a nonlapsing fund for the purposes specified in this section.

2.  Sources of fund.  The fund is funded from all fees collected under section 2660‑U and from other funds accepted by the commissioner or allocated or appropriated by the Legislature. The commissioner may accept donations or grants to the fund from any source.

3.  Purposes.  Expenditures from the fund may be made only for the following purposes:

A. To improve the rate of testing of residential private drinking water wells for contaminants or properties specified pursuant to section 2660‑T;   [PL 2017, c. 230, §3 (NEW).]

B. For educational outreach programs consistent with section 2660‑V;   [PL 2021, c. 483, Pt. BB, §4 (AMD).]

C. To defray the department's costs in administering this subchapter and in waiving fees under section 2602‑A, subsections 2 and 3; and   [PL 2021, c. 483, Pt. BB, §5 (AMD).]

D. To implement the program established pursuant to section 2602‑A, subsection 3 to provide free testing for arsenic of private residential water supplies to low-income residents of the State.   [PL 2021, c. 483, Pt. BB, §6 (NEW).]

4.  Expenditures.  The division of environmental health within the department shall expend funds with the review and advice of an advisory committee established by the department. The advisory committee must include representatives from at least 2 laboratories certified pursuant to section 567. Preference in expending funds must be given to community-based programs that reach high-risk or underserved populations. The department may contract for professional services to carry out the purposes of this section.