Opinion: The hidden costs of military ‘exercises’

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 13, 2026

The noise from events such as the recent Great State of Maine Air Show in Brunswick can be dismissed as a nuisance, but the environmental, financial and cultural impact cannot. The U.S. military is exempt from regulatory standards. The documentary “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” explores toxic contamination at military sites and global environmental damage, including deforestation, ocean pollution, toxic battlefields, and the military carbon footprint. ~ Peter S. Morgan Jr., U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Raymond