[Adopted 10-12-2020 ATM by Art. 18]
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this moratorium is to protect Lake Massapoag, and the Town's wetlands, rivers, streams, ponds, groundwater, drinking water, soil, fish and wildlife, as well as human health. Current artificial turf carpets have known environmental and health hazards. They contain toxic chemicals, including flame retardants, plasticizers, and PFAS, a class of synthetic compounds that includes approximately 4,700 chemicals. PFAS are a particular health threat, as they are highly persistent "forever chemicals" that never fully degrade, accumulate in our bodies, and adversely impact human health even at low levels of exposure. A new regulation promulgated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection establishes a drinking water standard of 20 parts per trillion for the sum of six specific PFAS. Thus, artificial turf installation could potentially contaminate Lake Massapoag, rivers, streams, ponds, ground water, soil and drinking water in the Town of Sharon by leaching chemicals. Plastic grass blades also break off artificial turf and would be blown by the wind to surrounding areas where they would break down into microplastic which does not fully degrade, thereby threatening to contaminate the nearby natural areas with PFAS, microplastics and other chemicals. Current infill materials are also problematic: crumb rubber from scrap tires is likely toxic, organic infill must be watered to get it to stay in place, and can freeze, which requires the addition of anti-freeze substances to prevent athlete falls. Artificial turf carpets are produced from petroleum. They are also not currently recyclable in the U.S. One facility in Pennsylvania collects turf fields for "recycling," but only recycles the crumb rubber that is removed from the plastic carpet. Current plastic artificial turf fields are also not biodegradable or compostable.
B. 
Definitions.
ARTIFICIAL TURF
Any grass turf carpet composed of petroleum-based plastic, whether or not the plastic turf contains PFAS.
PFAS
A class of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.
C. 
Regulated conduct. The Town of Sharon shall not install artificial turf on any land, of any size, owned by the Town, for a period of three years from the effective date of the moratorium.
D. 
Exemptions. Synthetic turf grass carpets made of plant-based bioplastic which is entirely biodegradable or compostable, and is certified to be free of PFAS.