This is what happens to animals during an eclipse

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 6, 2024

The April 8 solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most Mainers. It’s the same for the birds, animals and reptiles, some of which likely will become confused or unsettled when they are plunged into a mid-day darkness. This will be most noticeable among animals that are nocturnal or have their daily activities scheduled by the sun, according to animal and eclipse experts.

Maine Senate passes food scraps disposal ban

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 6, 2024

The Maine Senate voted 20-12 in favor of the food scraps disposal ban on Tuesday, moving the state one step closer to becoming the final New England state to require commercial and industrial-scale food waste producers to donate their edible leftovers and recycle what remains. “This bill will divert food waste from landfills within the state of Maine,” said Sen. Stacy Brenner, D-Scarborough, the Senate chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee that worked the bill. “Currently 40% of municipal waste in the state is food waste.”

Thomaston cement plant now expected to stay open as distribution center

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 6, 2024

After announcing last year that a Thomaston cement plant was ending production, its parent company now says that it will shift its operations and become a distribution center for an imported version of the material. the news that the plant will stay open using a different business model means that Thomaston will hold onto its biggest taxpayer. It also means that Maine’s construction industry may see the continuation of an important supply chain. Dragon’s executive vice president told Kara George, Thomaston’s town manager, on Feb. 29 that the company will instead begin importing cement from Spain. Starting around May, the imports will be shipped to Searsport, then be stored and distributed from the Thomaston facility.

Warm weather is disrupting northern Maine's winter events

MAINE PUBLIC • March 6, 2024

Warm winter temperatures and a lack of snow are causing problems for organizers behind some of Maine’s public winter events — even in Aroostook County, where snow is usually reliable this time of year. Some events had to adjust, but have forged ahead, while others, including the Can-Am dog sled races, have been cancelled. And some organizers are wondering if this year's weather is an aberration, or a sign of things to come.

‘He’s drowning!’: Boy rescued from river by Westbrook Winterfest attendees

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 6, 2024

Four Winterfest-goers—including Kimberly Tarbox, of Westbrook, chair of the Westbrook Safe Mobility and Access Committee who uses a wheelchair—sprang into action to save a young boy from the Presumpscot River on Saturday. Some community members are calling for better safety along the banks at Riverbank Park, such as fencing.

Former Otis Mill tower collapsed in Jay

SUN JOURNAL • March 6, 2024

The more than 100-year-old brick tower at the former Otis Mill on Mill Street was taken down Monday by a professional demolition company. The original mill was built in 1888 and became the founding mill of International Paper in 1898. The tower had International Paper Co. 1906 in large white letters at the top. The company built the Androscoggin Paper mill on Riley Road in Jay, which began operations in 1960s. Wasuau Paper Corp. operated the Mill Street mill until it closed in 2009 after more than 120 years of papermaking.

Sharing Maine's Wildlife Tales, March 19

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • March 6, 2024

Ron Joseph will captivate audiences with stories from his book, "Bald Eagles, Bear Cubs, and Hermit Bill: Memoirs of a Wildlife Biologist." At Auburn Public Library, March 19, 1-3 p.m, in-person or Zoom attendance options.

Mud season is here. It's not time to hit the ATV trails just yet.

NEWS CENTER MAINE • March 6, 2024

With the weather becoming nicer as spring approaches, your all-terrain vehicle (ATV) may be calling your name. However, patience is key because trails are still closed for the season. Most ATV trails in Maine won't open back up until late April or early May. If driven on too early, these trails can become damaged due to mud after the snow has melted. Sergeant Kyle Hladik, with the Maine Warden Service, said most likely there isn't a decent place in the entire state to ride at the moment.

Mainers asked to watch out for Zebra mussels in northern rivers and lakes

SPECTRUM NEWS • March 6, 2024

Wildlife officials are on the lookout for an invasive species of mussel that has come uncomfortably close to Maine, and they are enlisting the public’s help. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is seeking volunteers to help monitor lakes and other water bodies in northern Maine. So far, there have been more than 100 people expressing interest. Small as they are, zebra mussels can cause big problems, especially in large numbers. Stankowski said they can wreak havoc on local ecosystems by consuming all the nutrients in an area, denying them to other animals such as fish. 

Letter: Climate action needs to be a priority for Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 6, 2024

Humans are, at this moment in human history, demonstrating the proverbial frog-in-the-cauldron behavior: It appears likely that we won’t have the gumption to get out of that cauldron in time to avert our conversion into a stew. Thank you, BDN, for your efforts to inspire your readership to take constructive action on this climate crisis! Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, and Rep. Jared Golden, should take notice: Climate is a Maine priority! ~ Cynthia Stancioff, Camden

Legislature considers limiting seizure of private land to build power lines

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 6, 2024

Maine legislators are looking for a middle ground between developers of electricity transmission lines needed to deliver clean energy and property owners demanding more of a role in deciding where giant towers are built. Lawmakers on Tuesday took up a proposal that would limit the use of eminent domain – the government’s power to take private property for public use at “just compensation” – to build a transmission line. It’s one of several bills this session that could change how such projects are reviewed and approved.

Conservation fundraiser in Freeport to benefit Maine Coast Heritage Trust

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 6, 2024

A fundraising event for Maine Coast Heritage Trust Thursday will feature former state representative Hannah Pingree as the keynote speaker at “Tides of Change: Climate Action Through Conservation.” The event is from 6-9 p.m. on March 7 at Maine Beer Company, 525 U.S. Route 1, Freeport. Proceeds will support MCHT’s ongoing efforts to protect and steward Maine’s coastal lands and waters. Tickets are $100. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit mcht.org/tides-of-change.

New list of thousands of products with ‘forever chemicals’ in Maine includes BIC razors and floor finishes

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 6, 2024

BIC razors and 3M Scotch restickable mounting squares are among the common household products containing PFAS chemicals that are sold in Maine, according to an analysis of industry reports made public on Tuesday. Sixteen more manufacturers reported thousands of products to Maine officials since the beginning of this year. They  add to the 41 companies made public in January that reported nearly 1,000 brand-name products sold with so-called “forever chemicals” in them. The products show a prevalence of the chemicals in common household cleaners, apparel and floor finishes. Notable among the new companies filing is 3M Co., which reported to the state that it sold more than 20,000 products with intentionally added PFAS in the United States in 2021 and 2022, said Mike Belliveau, president of the Portland-based nonprofit Defend Our Health, which obtained and analyzed the records. Those products also are sold in Maine.

Maine state chamber continues call for surgical approach to PFAS law

SPECTRUM NEWS • March 6, 2024

The head of the state chamber of commerce called on Maine lawmakers Wednesday to take a more tempered approach to regulating the harmful chemicals known as PFAS, warning that a broad law unfairly targets all businesses. A 2021 Maine law requires manufacturers of products with PFAS to report the presence of the chemicals to the state. The original law set a Jan. 1, 2023 reporting deadline, which sparked pushback and led regulators to grant extensions to 2,500 companies worried about compliance. Since then, lawmakers extended the reporting deadline to Jan. 1, 2025, but starting in 2030, Maine will not allow products to be sold in the state if they have PFAS unless regulators determine it’s an “unavoidable use.” 

Orrington trash plant receives $650K in funding days after it’s sold again

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 6, 2024

After a new company took over the Orrington trash incinerator in an effort to finally restart it, Penobscot County pledged $650,000 to help manage the tons of waste still in the plant. The Eagle Point Energy Center bought the plant Friday, Orrington Town Manager Chris Backman said Tuesday at a Penobscot County Commission meeting. The plant, formerly known as Penobscot Energy Recovery Co., foreclosed in May and stopped accepting trash from Orrington in September. Nearly 8,000 tons of trash remain inside the facility, which started burning trash in the 1980s. The company’s goal is to start processing trash in early 2025, Backman said. The 44 towns and communities that used the incinerator are taking their trash to Juniper Ridge landfill.

Maine compromise would exempt some industries from ban on ‘forever chemicals’

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 6, 2024

State regulators have introduced a new compromise plan to regulate the sale of products containing forever chemicals. The proposal by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection would exempt some federally regulated industries such as the automotive, aeronautical and defense sectors from an impending 2030 ban on the sale of products that contain forever chemicals, even if a safer chemical alternative is available. Some of Maine’s major manufacturers have threatened to move work out of state or even leave if the 2022 law wasn’t changed.

Returning native plants to the Maine landscape

SOUTH PORTLAND SENTRY • March 6, 2024

This past year, South Portland launched its 100 Resilient Yards program in an effort to promote organic land care and biodiverse landscapes. There was astounding interest in the program, with over 430 applications. After choosing 100 sites, we provided technical expertise and resources to help residents begin to transform their properties into resilient, organic landscapes founded on healthy soils. By the end of the program, with the help of eight partner organizations and 25 amazing volunteers, we had established 30 new vegetable gardens, planted nearly 250 native plants, and helped connect community members. It was a resounding success, and yes, please stay tuned – we are in the process of putting together a follow-up program for 2024.

Opinion: The most effective climate policy deserves our backing

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 6, 2024

For my lifetime, capping global warming at 1.5˚C was the goal. I’m 20 now, and we’ve passed it. What does that mean for our future? I don’t know, but I’m scared. And I do know that we have the opportunity now to make things better, and we need to act on it. While an overwhelming number of policies will be necessary to combat climate change, carbon fee and dividend is the single most effective policy the U.S. could enact to reduce carbon pollution. Please take two minutes to help save our future by asking Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins to support carbon fee and dividend legislation, and thanking Congresswoman Chellie Pingree for her support. ~ Katharine Gage, Bowdoin College sophomore

Opinion: Dream big and support the Maine Trails Bond

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 6, 2024

I have been a professional trail planner, designer, and builder for nearly a decade. Since my youth, I have been an avid trail user. Maine is woefully behind the rest of the country with trail infrastructure. And the best option for improvement and expansion today comes in the form of the Maine Trails Bond. The Maine Trails Bond is not just about repairing and building cool trails, its about repairing and building incredible communities. I moved here because I know this is one of the best places to live, work and raise a family. I urge the Legislature to support the Maine Trails Bond. It’s time to dream big. ~ Steve Kasacek, Outdoor Sport Institute and leadership team of the Maine Trails Coalition