Please vote with PFAS in mind. This is a serious issue being covered up by chemical companies like 3m and dupont. Please get ahead of this while we still have fresh water. Look into what happened at Dalton Utilities in GA. PBS Frontline just did a documentary on it if you need an fast and easy way to learn about the topic.

Hello Delegates, I am writing in opposition of HB1396. This bill had been brought fourth by landowners groups that falsely claim to represent and maximize property owners rights when in fact they are property owners that want to end the tradition of hound hunting. This is proven by these groups comments on their own social media pages. These groups have made claim that only 8 states allow the use of hounds to hunt, a stat quoted by delegates in the subcommittee, that is simply a false statement, currently only 9 states allow hounds to be used to hunt deer but nearly every state allows the utilization of dogs to hunt other game species many not requiring an special license to do so. I ask the delegates to understand that the vast majority of the members of the hound hunting organizations are land owners as well in addition to all of the landowners who lease or allow hound hunting on their land support the tradition of hound hunting. This bill creates a permit allowing the DWR create and issue permits on a may issue criteria with visual permit requirements for hounds and vehicles. If Additional funding is needed to police game laws the bill should be amended to a license just like an archery or muzzleloading license that is a shall issue. Additionally the cost for said license should be reduced and required for all that utilize or partcipate in any type of hunting that utilizes a dog. Dogs are already required to have owner contact info on their collar and their vehicles have state issued license plates therefore marking is not necessary. Lastly the only ones who should be exempt from license purchase are those that utilize dogs to hunt on their own land. This simplifies the requirements and makes it fair for all parties. Basically if big game is harvested and checked in and the use of dogs is checked as a part of big game license registering process they should be required to have a dog hunting license or be exempt as a land owner. I hope that you find this as a reasonable comprise. Additionally there needs to be some sort of recourse for false complaints or accusations. If this bill continues as is it will create more tensions between those who utilize dogs to hunt and those who don't like the use of hunting dogs. False complaints will continue to increase cause additional hunter harassment and tension between hunters and those that oppose it. Thank you for your time. V/R, B. C. Bunch

I strongly support these bills that will increase regulation and oversight for PFAS manufacturing facilities, use of biosolids and treated effluent on agricultural land, set limits for allowable concentrations of PFAS compounds in wastewater, and allow jurisdictions to impose limits and regulate practices relevant to PFAS contamination. These bills are needed to address the very serious issue of PFAS contamination, which is present even in rural areas of Virginia and is an enormous threat to our health and our water supplies.

I strongly support the right of municipalities and political jurisdictions to impose testing requirements on sludge and treated effluent planned to be used or spread on agricultural lands. We are starting to see problems wit h PFAS contamination here in rural Virginia (Rockbridge Co) and need to be able to take measures to protect our water.

I support H.B. 1048 and H.B. 1049. Healthy and sustainably managed populations of menhaden will protect economic opportunities in VA, while also protecting wildlife and recreation. Menhaden are foundational parts of the Bay's ecosystem. I support H.B. 880, which will help to protect VA farmers from the lasting and severe impacts of PFAS contamination in soils, which in turn protects rural economies, wildlife, and people. The impacts been devastating in other states such as Maine. Regular testing is essential. I support H.B. 1072. We should empower VA communities as they seek to protect residents from the harmful impacts of forever chemicals and to minimize harms related to sewage sludge.

As an Albemarle County resident and member of the Natural Heritage Committee, I strongly urge the passage of this bill to test biosolids for toxic PFAS and any toxic contaminants. Local governments must be given the ability to protect residents and natural resources locally.

Madame Chair and members of the committee. My name is Beth Novick, and I’m a resident living in an area with several large farms as well as a lot of aquaculture on the Coan River in Northern Neck Virginia. I support HB 1072. I believe this bill would allow farmers and localities to get the data they need to make informed decisions about biosolids. We have a lot at risk here - the oyster, crabbing, and fishing industries will be negatively impacted if there is runoff from agricultural fields that are using sludge as a fertilizer option. I know that our local farmers and watermen want to work together for the good of the economy and the community. I'm friends with folks in both occupations, and my son and his wife are organic farmers in Monroe, VA. Please help them be able to make informed decisions by passing this Bill. In addition - this Bill provides an opportunity for some job growth in the region: Providing training opportunities for local government staff involved in biosolids monitoring Thank you ~ Beth Novick, 886 Bundick Rd. Lottsburg, VA 22511

My husband and I live right across the road from a farm that has been spraying biosolids on its land for several years every spring and fall. We support HB 1072 because it will allow our neighbor and our county to get the data they need to make informed decisions about the dangerous health consequences to people, animals, water, and land of applying biosolids to farm land.

Seven generations for the future

If you’re tired of the 9-to-5 grind or just want a way to put some extra cash in your pocket every week, I have something for you. Companies are currently looking for remote writers to handle: Article Writing Blog Posts Social Media Content Live Chat Support No experience is necessary and full training is provided. But before you apply, you need to see which role you’re best suited for. Go here to take the Writing Job Quiz. ---> http://PaidToWrite.Online/ Once you finish the quiz, you’ll get a breakdown of the best opportunities available for you right now. Visit -----> http://PaidToWrite.Online/

Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Very much in favor of authorizing this testing so we can begin to address the PFAS forever chemicals , pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, landfill leachate, industrial wastes, etc, that are contaminainants in sewage sludge. I would suggest that this bill be married with Sen Stuarts bill SB 386. Please support this bill HB1072. Once we have testing in place we can begin to determine how best to deal with these toxic wastes and limit appling to farm land where it is contaminating the soil and the crops growing there, and hence animals and people consuming then. Even PFAS is considered "forever" there are biological organisms (extremophiles) that have been demonstrated to be able break it down in soils with in a few months. The organisms can be accessed from Soil Saviors.org . They should be incorporated into any long term management strategies.

1396 Keep dog hunting No solar panels 1091 129 let owners kill deer 1169 leave small farms alone 1072 do not regulate sludge applications

Please vote YES on this.

Re: HB1072 - Local authority to test and monitor the land application of sewage sludge within its political boundaries Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality has put local governments in an awkward position. The Department has incorrectly interpreted state law to say that any locality with a biosolids testing and monitoring program may not test sewage sludge (aka biosolids) for PFAS, no matter who pays for such tests. When local government officials understand that toxic contaminants in land-applied sewage sludge present an urgent issue, they have shown they are willing to test the sludge coming into their jurisdictions. But, as it stands now, local governments are left with two very bad options: one is to defy DEQ's position and test anyway, with unknown consequences; the other is to take DEQ to court. Please support HB1072, which, by clarifying local governments' testing authority under state law, will also: • prevent the state from further usurping local authority • promote transparency to protect a farmer's right to know • protect the health of local residents and the environment • ensure property values are maintained and liability is minimized. The Department has voluntarily restricted its own testing and monitoring of biosolids to the minimum federal regulations issued by EPA in 1993. These regulations cover 4 types of indicator pathogens and 9 heavy metals. But the Department already has the authority (and, in fact, the legal mandate) to do more, evinced in various sections of state law, including Virginia's Water Quality Standards, which require the Department to test, monitor, and regulate sewage sludge land application for "...toxic substances (including those which bioaccumulate)," 9VAC25-260-20. PFAS chemicals are indisputably included in that category, since they were declared hazardous substances under CERCLA in 2024 and they have been proven to bioaccumulate. Underwriters of commercial property owner's insurance, including insurance for farmers, are increasingly issuing policies with PFAS exclusions. These riders leave the property owner responsible for contamination clean-up and lawsuits, with no help from their liability insurance. While the land application of sewage sludge is not the only potential source of farmland contamination from PFAS, the practice is an obvious culprit that needs more scrutiny and better, common-sense management and regulation.