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 PUBLIC • February 20, 2026
Winter is a great time for birding in Maine. Plenty of species are still around, from sea birds to snowy owls. And they can often be easier to spot, with less foliage and more white snow to set off their colors. Learn which birds to look for and where, and find out how to prepare for spring migration. Also, hear about the newly completed Maine Bird Atlas.
CENTRAL MAINE • February 18, 2026
The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust brought dozens of residents and visitors onto conserved lands this winter through snowmobile and snowshoe events designed to connect the community with local trails and winter landscapes. On Feb. 14, the trust hosted a snowmobile trailside rest stop at the Hunter Cove Uplands parking lot along Route 4. More than 45 snowmobilers stopped throughout the day to warm up by a fire and enjoy hot cocoa, coffee, cookies and hot dogs while meeting trust staff and volunteers. The event also gave riders an opportunity to learn about the trust’s efforts to preserve snowmobile access across the Rangeley Lakes Region. The organization maintains more than 35 miles of snowmobile trails on its conservation lands.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 20, 2026
While Jacob Aronoff makes a valid pitch that tax revenues from crypto mining might offset the public outlay required to improve Maine’s power grid and subsidize the crypto mining industry’s need for massive amount of electricity (“Maine’s energy grid needs help. Crypto mining might offer it,” Feb. 2), this story hit at the same time as reports that a United Arab Emirates company took a $500 million stake in President Trump’s family-owned crypto enterprise. Aside from the unbearable noise emanating 24/7 from the facilities, the power they require is off the scale. Maine already subsidizes commercial solar farms at taxpayer expense. Just say no to this latest raid on our wallets. ~ Larry Butler, Topsham
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 20, 2026
Maine municipalities are joining a national movement to sue large chemical companies whose products polluted wastewater systems and sent sewage disposal costs soaring. Ten Maine lawsuits have added to the thousands across America against 3M, DuPont and 18 more companies that made PFAS or sold products containing them. The towns aim to recover costs to restore tainted wastewater treatment systems and dispose of PFAS-laden sewage solids. The legal strategy by the municipalities rests on the success of a similar nationwide lawsuit where a large group sued over contaminated public drinking water systems. DuPont and 3M settled that case in 2023, agreeing to pay more than $13 billion over 13 years across the 10,000-plus plaintiffs.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 20, 2026
A major theme of Earth Day this year is the need to reduce plastic. According to California’s Stanford Medicine’s website, scientists estimate that humans consume a credit-card size of plastic a week. Most plastic is derived from fossil fuels. The major oil companies know that in order to sell plastic to consumers, they need to convince people that it can be recycled. Sadly, the National Geographic Society reports 91 percent of plastic cannot be recycled. In 2018, Saudi ARAMCO, the world’s largest oil company, announced plans to expand the manufacture of plastic. Other oil companies have since followed suit. Plastic fabrication must be reduced. This can be achieved by limiting the production of oil, and one of the best ways to accomplish that is with a carbon fee and dividend. ~ Kimberlee Hammond, Frankfort
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 20, 2026
Looking to boost tourism and tap into the expansive wilderness of northern Maine, a group is planning the longest ultramarathon on the East Coast in Aroostook County. The 207-mile Maine Moose Ultra is slated for September 2027. The marathon, organized by the Presque Isle nonprofit Ignite PI, aims to attract world-class runners to the trails of Aroostook County and put the region on an international stage in a sport that has surged in popularity in the last decade. The entry fee will be around $1,200 to $1,500.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 17, 2026
Maine’s 2025 moose season registered 2,309 total kills from 4,075 permits, for an overall success rate of 57%. Permit allocations have remained relatively steady over the past five years, ranging from 3,969 in 2021 to 4,105 in 2023. The adaptive WMD 4A produced 140 kills from 520 permits, for a 27% success rate. The adaptive hunt was part of a multi-year management experiment aimed at reducing winter tick impacts by lowering moose densities in that region, particularly through increased antlerless permits. September bull hunts posted lower success rates in every district compared to 2024. Overall, nine districts posted year-over-year increases in success rates, while five declined and four were unchanged.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 18, 2026
With winters growing more unpredictable, the Maine Forest Service has issued guidance to help the state’s loggers, foresters and woodlot owners navigate the new era of extreme weather. The 42-page handbook acknowledges a stark reality for people who earn their living in the Maine woods: the traditional methods are often no longer enough to handle the unseasonable thaws and heavy rains that are increasingly common in a changing climate. “Extreme weather events aren’t just more frequent and more severe but are inevitable,” the guide warns. “Being prepared for these events with the tools and ideas described in this manual is a good start.” Failure to adapt would have economic as well as environmental consequences.
CENTRAL MAINE • February 19, 2026
Maine is preparing to recognize Invasive Species Awareness Week, Feb. 23-March 1. Early detection, public awareness and reporting remain some of the most effective tools available to protect forests and other areas, according to Allison Kanoti, Forest Health and Monitoring Division director, and Gary Fish, state horticulturist, who offered information about invasive species and the part people can play in identifying and reporting them. The top five invasive species of particular concern right now:
• Asian longhorned beetle
• Emerald ash borer
• Winter moth
• Spotted lanternfly
• Hemlock woolly adelgid
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 19, 2026
Even for those who haven’t heard of PFAS, they’ve likely been affected by these forever chemicals — with PFAS pollution costing taxpayers over $100 million and found in high levels in the blood of farmers, their families and neighbors. Maine is a leader in PFAS regulation, having passed numerous laws regulating the production of PFAS products and our food supply. But companies are pushing for weaker standards. The Maine Board of Pesticide Control has echoed industry talking points downplaying the dangers of PFAS. In order to protect our families from PFAS contamination, the Board of Pesticide Control needs to get on board with PFAS regulation. ~ Heather Spalding, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 19, 2026
Last week’s decision by the Environmental Protection Agency repealing a 2009 “endangerment” finding that carbon dioxide emissions threaten the national and global environment was regrettable, potentially tragic — and predictable. Corporate lobbyists, and now a solid phalanx of Republican lawmakers, have been battling against environmental laws and rules since 1970, when the original Clean Air Act written by Maine Sen. Ed Muskie was signed into law by President Richard Nixon — the same year Nixon created the EPA. Sen. George Mitchell, Muskie’s successor, pushed through the Clean Air Act of 1990 against daunting odds and held the first Senate hearings on global warming. All through the 1990s and 2000s, scientific evidence mounted that we were conducting the largest chemistry experiment on the atmosphere in humanity’s brief history, and that disasters were the certain outcome. When Barack Obama became president, the EPA acted with its “endangerment” finding through rule-making. Then Trump was elected again, bent on pursuing a radical anti-environment agenda. Our children and grandchildren will not thank us if they encounter what George Mitchell foresaw as a “world on fire.” ~ Douglas Rooks
SUN JOURNAL • February 18, 2026
After depleting its fund balance over the past few years, Maine Waste to Energy is assessing a $1 million charge on Auburn and other member towns using the facility, with Auburn bearing the bulk of that cost. The 40-year-old plant, which incinerates waste for Auburn and 11 surrounding towns, has fallen into some disrepair in recent years and maintenance is needed, according to City Manager Phillip Crowell Jr. The facility processes more than 72,000 tons of waste a year and uses the steam to capture 3.6 megawatts of electric power.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 18, 2026
The Sebago Lake Ice Fishing Derby took place last weekend, with scores of ice fishers making their way onto the frozen shores of the lake in hopes of getting the biggest catch. The derby was run by the Sebago Lake Rotary Club. Cyndy Bell, a member of Rotary, said the mission of the derby, which has been taking place since 2001, was originally to remove invasive species such as togue and pike from the lake. Those fish, Bell said, compete for the same food sources as the lake’s native salmon population. This year’s derby had more than 1,000 participants.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 18, 2026
David Parent, superintendent of the Sanford Water District, said developers are eyeing parcels of land owned by New England Energy Co. along the Mousam River on the eastern side of town. The project would include independent power generation, a mixture of solar power, battery storage and fuel cells, Harrington It would not draw power from the broader electrical grid “imposing no negative impacts on other electric ratepayers.” It wasn’t immediately clear who was behind the data center development. Large data centers, especially those centered on artificial intelligence, can consume massive quantities of water. That’s led to criticism in some parts of the country. The proposed center could use between 300,000 and 500,000 gallons of water per day.
MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • February 17, 2026
Friends Katahdin Woods and Waters has elected three new members to the board. Carla Chung Mattix is a 25-year veteran lawyer with the NPS. John Pond is a Patten native and Executive Vice President of Environmental Programs at engineering firm Haley Ward. Linda Qualey of Benedicta spent her career in nonprofit fundraising and management roles.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 18, 2026
A second employee who died this week following a gas leak at a Baileyville paper mill last month was identified Wednesday by the company as a 26-year-old process engineer. Allen Hornberger, who worked in Woodland Pulp’s technical department, died Monday after having been hospitalized since the gas leak late last month. Officials have said the gas appears to have been highly toxic hydrogen sulfide, which was released in the Bleach Plant area of the facility.
SUN JOURNAL • February 18, 2026
Last November, the five chiefs of the Wabanaki Nations met with Gov. Mills to discuss our tribal legislative priorities. The governor was respectful, honest and welcoming. She spoke openly about her concerns about the expansion of gaming in Maine, but also made it clear she is interested in finding ways to support the tribes. We felt this meeting was the best we’ve had with any Maine governor. When she announced her decision earlier this month to allow LD 1164 — the bill to allow the Wabanaki Nations to benefit from iGaming — to become law, we were beyond elated. The governor had extended herself in friendship and trust, and the Wabanaki Nations now have a great achievement to celebrate. This represents the most significant economic progress for the tribes. ~ Pos Bassett, chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik; William Nicholas, chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 18, 2026
Paul Guernsey lives in Warren, Maine. His fourth novel, “Rolling Back the River,” explores an eroding world with a guide who knows the last of what’s left on the map. Vincent Mapp, like Guernsey himself, is an expert angler on a mission to catch a fish native to Maine in the waters of Argentina. Along the way, he learns to adapt to adventure, loss and the whims of literature at every turn. Guernsey uses humor, grief and field guide precision to take readers on an adventure to Argentina and through time as we roll back the river of his devising. He says, “If we sit around thinking about the good old days, we’re just wasting our time because we’re in a different spot. We have to make the best of our short time in that place. Too many people spend their time trying to roll back up the river. You just have to step out where you can and fish that spot, make the best of that spot and then keep moving.” ~ Lisa Hiton
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 18, 2026
The owner of a trash incinerator in Auburn has failed to pay nearly $700,000 to a contractor, according to a lawsuit filed Friday. Maine Waste to Energy has not paid contractor Zampell Refractories for six different jobs, totaling $678,505, alleged the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Portland. Zampell wants a judge to order the sale of the incinerator and property, with proceeds going to the contractor to pay off the liens, the lawsuit said. Maine is facing a trash crisis as other facilities in the state are either not operating or operating at a reduced capacity and sending trash to landfills. Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town is filling faster than expected and is seeking permission to expand.
