The most comprehensive online source of conservation news and events in Maine and beyond, edited by Jym St. Pierre
Thank you for reading Maine Environmental News. Each year, we post thousands of news summaries, notices, and links related to important environmental issues from across the state (and beyond). If you find this service useful, you can help us continue to provide it by making a donation. Just click on the button below and contribute whatever you can afford. Thanks again for your generous support!
Sincerely,
Jym St. Pierre
Editor, Maine Environmental News
MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • June 29, 2025
Two highly polluting Maine paper mills, one in Rumford and one in Skowhegan, are among the dirtiest in America. By continuing to burn coal and tires among other dirty fuels, these plants are filling the air we breathe with hazardous pollutants and warming the climate in the process. Maine should make every effort to support and future-proof industries with a strong and especially valuable foothold in the state. When it comes to our remaining paper mills relying on the existing EPA emissions framework does us a grave disservice. With a goal of 100% clean energy by 2040 and with a view to both protecting the health of local residents and slashing greenhouse gas emissions, it’s time to be clear and unwavering about modernizing and cleaning up these operations.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 28, 2025
There is no easy trail to the top of Katahdin — every route is steep and strenuous. The rocky trails range from 9 to 11 miles round-trip, with anywhere from 3,800 to 4,200 feet of elevation gain. Physical and mental preparation in advance of your big hike is a must; this is best accomplished through lots of hiking, in all types of conditions. Plan on carrying the “Ten Essentials” plus a few extras. Don’t hike alone. Get a paper trail map, select a climbing route and study it. Practice basic map and compass skills. Navigate using a GPS phone app. Pack a first aid kit and know how to use it. Make good use of the most important tool you’re carrying: your brain. With a maximum of care, go forth to reap the reward of Maine’s greatest hiking experience. Have fun! ~ Carey Kish
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 28, 2025
One person was rescued Friday night from the Penobscot River. Firefighters received the call for a water rescue at 6:09 p.m. Crews from Hampden Fire responded with a truck, boat and ambulance. Crews were able to bring the person safely to shore for medical treatment.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 28, 2025
The South Portland Comprehensive Plan Committee (CPC) is failing its constituents by not listening. South Portlanders have repeatedly communicated that they do not want new development near tanks, on brownfields, or in areas prone to flooding or sea level rise — which plentiful research shows will increase due to climate change. All predictions are that the area near Bug Light Park is going to face increased flooding. It’s next to tanks that emit dangerous amounts of chemicals like benzene, and the soil of this former shipyard is highly polluted. The Maine Climate Council (and others) urge coastal localities to plan for 8.8 feet of sea level rise by 2100. Let’s work together to “promote a safe, attractive, equitable and prosperous South Portland,” as stated in the mission of the CPC. ~ Debbe Davis, South Portland
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 28, 2025
Tourist season in Bar Harbor has resumed with the usual crowded sidewalks and hard-to-find parking spots, but there is one noticeable difference this summer. The town’s cruise ship visits are a shadow of what they have been the past three years. After seeing more than 100 ship visits between April and early November in each of the past three years — most of them from large ships — Bar Harbor this year at most will get 16 large ship visits, and so far hasn’t had any. Since 2022 local voters twice have supported referendums that effectively ban visits by ships that carry 1,000 or more passengers. None of those large ships have appeared in Bar Harbor this year, and the shops and restaurants that have been geared toward their passengers are feeling the pinch.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 27, 2025
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday added six entries to a growing list of Maine water bodies where fishing is not recommended because of high levels of toxic “forever chemicals.” The updated advisories, which recommend limiting consumption of all fish, or certain fish, from six water bodies, come after tests of fish in the locations found levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, that were above the Maine CDC’s recommended levels for regular consumption. The updated list includes Lovejoy Pond in Albion; Sebasticook River in Burnham and Benton; Collyer Brook in Gray; Androscoggin Lake in Leeds and Wayne; Annabessacook Lake in Monmouth and Winthrop; and Messalonskee Stream in Waterville.
MAINE MONITOR • June 27, 2025
Legislation signed by Gov. Janet Mills this month codifies and fast-tracks Maine’s transition to 100 percent clean energy amid growing uncertainty about the future of federal tax credits for renewable energy projects. The law, L.D. 1868, advances Maine’s previous energy goals by a decade. It requires the state to transition its energy portfolio to 90 percent renewable sources and 10 percent low- or zero-carbon sources by 2040. In 2023, roughly 65 percent of the energy generated in Maine came from renewable sources. Lead sponsor Sen. Mark Lawrence (D-York) said the legislation will make the transition by creating new incentives for low-carbon sources in Maine’s energy portfolio, allowing generators like large-scale hydropower and regional nuclear power plants to qualify for energy credits.
SUN JOURNAL • June 27, 2025
A hazardous materials incident involving pool chemicals prompted emergency services to close a portion of Littlefield Road on Friday. Firefighters were called to a medical emergency at 106 Littlefield Road around 7:45 a.m. after a resident was exposed to chlorine-based pool treatment and experienced difficulty breathing. Responding paramedics identified the situation as a hazardous materials incident and the resident was transported to Central Maine Medical Center. Lisbon public works closed Littlefield Road between Crowley and King roads as a safety precaution. Once hazardous conditions were resolved, the scene was declared safe and roads were reopened.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 27, 2025
The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, making it vital for us to build a transportation system that not only serves our current needs but is also resilient and sustainable for future generations. By investing in green transportation initiatives and infrastructure updates, we can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make a positive contribution to our environment. Gov. Mills and our legislators have taken steps in this direction, promoting strategies that will make our transportation systems safer and more eco-friendly. ~ Maria Fuentes, Maine Better Transportation Association
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 27, 2025
A developer plans to build two three-story apartment buildings along Talbot School Road. The project, Belfort Landing, would dramatically affect Belfort Street, a quiet residential cul-de-sac behind the site. The new buildings at the height of a four-story structure would tower over nearby one- and two-story homes and drastically altering the site’s drainage. The consequences are negligent and reckless. When my basement floods, who will be held accountable? A project that knowingly increases the risk of flooding should never move forward without serious, enforceable redesign. ~ Erica Berry, Portland
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 27, 2025
President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is running into hurdles as Republicans in Congress try to get the sweeping tax and policy measure to the president by his preferred July 4 deadline. The U.S. Senate was expected to start voting as soon as Friday on its version of the massive proposal that seeks to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. The budget bill squeaked through the House by one vote in May. The bill may add more than $2 trillion to the federal deficit over a decade and leave millions more uninsured while extending tax cuts. A poll released Wednesday found fewer than a third of Mainers want Congress to pass the bill. The Senate version of Trump’s megabill will phase out clean energy tax credits that have benefited Maine. The Sierra Club said it was delivering around 1,000 signed postcards from Mainers to U.S. Sens. Susan Collins Bangor office Friday that ask her to save the tax credits and oppose a public lands selloff.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 27, 2025
Tracing the scenic, rocky coast of Mount Desert Island, the Ocean Path is a popular easy hiking trail in Acadia National Park that spans from the famous Sand Beach to Otter Point. The 2.1-mile Ocean Path is a wide path that’s surfaced with gravel much of the way. Expect a few small hills and stairs built of wood or stone. The trail becomes more rugged and rocky as it circles Otter Point. Keep in mind that this is a 4.2-mile out-and-back hike, unless you park vehicles at both ends or turn around early.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 27, 2025
Anyone who spends time in the Maine woods knows there are plenty of things that not only go bump in the night — they scream, shriek, howl and chatter. Knowing which sounds certain animals make is key to assessing if there are any creatures nearby that could pose a threat to you or your pets. “We’ve got a fair amount of screamers out there from the fox to your bobcat and the lynx that has a weird scream,” said John Pelletier, a Registered Maine Guide. “One people often don’t think about is the porcupine and they have one heck of a scream.” By far the most common culprit is the fox.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 26, 2025
I work at the Farmington Energy Center, one of the largest solar sites in New England. As a solar field technician, I keep the energy center operating efficiently, and daily see how this solar energy center is delivering real, measurable benefits to our community. The energy center is doing what it was meant to do: delivering energy, creating good jobs and supporting the local economy. Solar energy centers like Farmington and Sanford power thousands of homes across the state. It’s part of a broader effort to diversify Maine’s energy mix and keep power affordable and reliable. Working at the solar energy center has shown me that dependable energy can be produced at home. ~ Bradley Greenleaf, New Sharon
SUN JOURNAL • June 26, 2025
Shredded tires serve as an accessible source of energy for ND Paper’s Rumford mill, but they also help fuel its ranking as one of the nation’s dirtiest industrial polluters, according to a new analysis of air emissions data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A report by the Environmental Integrity Project citing EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory data identified ND Paper and Sappi’s Somerset mill in Skowheganas among the top 100 highest-polluting industrial facilities in the country. Both were flagged for their use of shredded tires as fuel for producing on-site energy. While environmental advocates lament the use of tire-derived fuel for energy sourcing, the EPA and Maine Department of Environmental Protection allow the practice as it is considered less harmful than burning coal, another common source for industrial energy.
TIMES RECORD • June 26, 2025
Bowdoinham has received a “transformative” grant to bring new life to its waterfront, reforesting a new park near the heart of town. The town received a $15,000 Maine Forest Service Project Canopy grant to support the first phase of its efforts to reforest the new Bowdoinham Riverfront Park, the former site of the public works department. Around 45 native trees and hundreds of native shrubs were planted in the park using funds from Project Canopy. The new trees will serve multiple environmental purposes, such as erosion control, habitat restoration, and carbon sequestration.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 26, 2025
Less than a month ago, the Taste of Maine Potato Chip Co.’s $65 million flagship plant on the former Loring Air Force Base looked like little more than a fenced-in patch of gravel. Today, the frame of the 96,000-square-foot facility towers over the surrounding area as the plant begins to take shape. It marks a significant step forward both for Taste of Maine and the revitalization of Loring, which has seen stagnant development until recent years since the air force base closed in 1994. Owner Bruce Sargent anticipates the plant will open in April or May of 2026. He said it will create around 40 jobs initially, a number he hopes will climb to 60 or 65.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 26, 2025
NOAA fish stock assessments were once the envy of the world. The agency’s data stream included landings, aging data, skipper interviews, natural mortality estimates and biannual trawl surveys. These inputs supplied a statistical model critical for population analysis. Seasoned NOAA employees who were able to create a picture of the fish stocks in the ecosystem were replaced by private contractors who missed a lot of samples critical to identifying year classes. Logbook information often languished unused in a clunky NMFS database. The model “saw” less fish. There is some good news. The aggregate biomass in New England waters is very high. Fishing pressure is historically low. Given advancements in digital imaging and AI, time stamped and geo-located survey, already under development, can be fully developed and used. ~ Bill Gerencer, retired commercial fisherman, fishery manager and fishmonger
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 26, 2025
The hiker who, along with his daughter, was found dead on Katahdin this month died from complications of hypothermia, officials said Thursday. The death of Tim Keiderling, 58, has been ruled accidental. His daughter Esther, 28, died from blunt force trauma, the medical examiner said June 12. Baxter State Park officials said Esther Keiderling likely slipped and fell on icy terrain and “collided with large boulders” near the Cathedral Cut-off Trail. The weather on Katahdin when the Keiderlings were hiking it “presented climbers with a heightened risk of hypothermia,” with temperatures in the mid-30s and wind chills around 19 degrees.
