From rails to trails: What’s the future of Midcoast railroad tracks?

TIMES RECORD • August 29, 2024

Some argue that a coast-to-coast bicycle route would better suit old train corridors that meander through the Midcoast landscape. Others see the potential for revitalizing steam locomotives to preserve the history, protect the environment and help people connect. The Midcoast Conservancy teamed up with Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum in 2020. When the Sheepscot Narrow Gauge Railroad track was rebuilt, extending from the Alna Station over fields and forests in Trout Book Preserve, there was a chance for the two groups to collaborate and offer a rails and trails alternative: Ride the Rails to Hike the Trails. 

Opinion: Iberdrola proposal will affect grid, CMP customers

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 30, 2024

Iberdrola, the Spanish conglomerate that owns a majority interest in Avangrid, which owns Central Maine Power, proposes to increase its ownership share of Avangrid from 81% to 100%. Our electric grid will be totally owned by foreign investors. This has important implications for CMP customers. When there is a change in ownership and control of our electric utilities, there’s a requirement for a PUC review process to prove a net benefit to ratepayers. But Iberdrola says it already has “control” of Avangrid, so there’s no need for review. Accountability would be lost. To meet our state climate goals, we need to modernize, upgrade and invest in the grid. Regulators, lawmakers and the public need to have a close working relationship with our electricity providers. The Iberdrola proposal takes us a step away from what we need. ~ Sue Inches, Yarmouth

What happened after a dog ate rabies vaccine packets scattered in Houlton

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 30, 2024

Claude-E, a four-month old border collie, couldn’t resist the fishmeal coating pressed onto plastic packets he found scattered along a walkway in a downtown Houlton park on Aug. 21. The savory vaccine treats that Claude-E loved were actually meant for raccoons as part of a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Wildlife Services National Rabies Management Program aimed at preventing the spread of the viral disease. The oral rabies vaccine baits distributed in Maine cannot cause rabies and are safe if eaten by domestic dogs and cats, according to national program rabies field coordinator Jordana Kirby. Eating a large number of baits, like Claude-E did, may cause pets — particularly dogs — to have an upset stomach temporarily, but there are no long-term health risks.

Column: Bonapartes are the odd ducks in the gull world

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 30, 2024

Three gull species are common in Maine. Herring gulls are the most abundant. Enough said about them. Great black-backed gulls resemble a larger version of the herring gull, with a solid dark back and upper wing. Although they come inland, most hang around saltwater. Ring-billed gulls are slightly more interesting. In spring, they nest on northern freshwater lakes. Later, they move to the coast, and often into town. The Bonaparte’s gull is among the smallest gulls in the world, and one of the most unusual. While most gulls nest on the ground, Bonaparte’s gulls choose the trees adjacent to Canada’s northern lakes. In late summer, many invade Maine to winter here. ~ Bob Duchesne

Letter: The costs of climate change

SUN JOURNAL • August 30, 2024

Forget about the personalities at the top of the D and R tickets and consider an overriding issue — climate change. One party takes it seriously while the other plays lip service or dismisses it altogether, advocating drilling for more fossil fuel. Project 2025, being promoted by the Republican Party, would downsize the EPA and eliminate NOAA. States would be prevented from adopting stricter emission standards. The National Flood Insurance Program would be turned over to private insurers. Good luck in finding an affordable policy. The Inflation Reduction Act, which offers $350 billion for clean technology, would be repealed. Project 2025 would prevent the federal government from regulating greenhouse gas. What world are we leaving for our children and the generations that follow? ~ Edward Walworth, Lewiston

State, feds finalize agreement for nation’s 1st floating offshore wind power research lease

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 19, 2024

State and federal officials finalized an agreement Monday for an offshore wind research lease in the Gulf of Maine. The 15-square-mile wind array will include up to a dozen turbines floating nearly 30 miles southeast of Portland, and it is designed to test how ocean ecosystems and users – like shipping and fishing vessels – interact with floating wind farms. The Mills administration announced in February that it hopes to construct a port on Sears Island to construct and service the turbines. Eliza Donohue, executive director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association, said the site will “guide industry best practices” while creating opportunities for local businesses to engage with the renewable energy industry.

Healthy Maine Talks Podcast: #2 on PFAS: Dr. Gail Carlson, Colby College

MAINE PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION • August 29, 2024

On Monday, August 19th, more than a thousand gallons of AFFF fire fighting foam containing high concentrations of PFAS-- a class of "forever chemicals" associated with significant health concerns--was accidentally discharged at the Brunswick Executive Airport due to a malfunctioning fire suppression system. For this episode, Matt Wellington of the Maine Public Health Association interviews Dr. Gail Carlson, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Colby College. Dr. Carlson's research focuses on chemical pollution in Maine, including PFAS.

What we know about the toxic foam spill in Brunswick

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 29, 2024

Last week, the fire suppression system at the Brunswick Executive Airport malfunctioned and released 1,450 gallons of firefighting foam containing toxic PFAS chemicals into a hangar and the surrounding environment. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, and a variety of agencies are continuing to monitor and do testing around the site. Meanwhile, many Brunswick-area residents have expressed concern about the health and environmental effects from the spill, and will be convening during a public forum at town hall at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Here’s what we know about the spill so far.

Officials face packed town hall in Brunswick after toxic foam spill

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 29, 2024

More than 100 people from the Brunswick area attended a public forum Thursday night about the recent spill of more than 1,000 gallons of toxic firefighting foam. On Aug. 19, the fire suppression system at the Brunswick Executive Airport malfunctioned and released 1,450 gallons of the foam containing toxic PFAS chemicals into a hangar and the surrounding environment. Maine State Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, said at the meeting that this spill was the worst of its kind in Maine and one of the worst nationwide. The Brunswick Town Council will be pushing through a resolution to demand the cleanup of the foam at its meeting next week, and Ankeles said state representatives will be considering legislation regarding the removal of the foam and long-term PFAS disposal.

Many questions and frustrations, but few answers at special meeting about Brunswick chemical spill

TIMES RECORD • August 29, 2024

Concerns about the recent spill of toxic firefighting foam containing PFAS at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station drew more than 100 residents to a special meeting Thursday night, with many at the sometimes heated meeting voicing their frustrations over a lack of communication and information about the dangers posed by the forever chemicals. The meeting comes 10 days after a malfunctioning fire suppression system released 1,450 gallons of AFFF – a toxic firefighting foam that contains forever chemicals as PFAS – into Hangar 4 and surrounding areas. The fire suppression system in the hangar, which is owned by Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, has since been shut down.

Reward doubled for info on illegal gillnet in Magalloway River

SUN JOURNAL • August 29, 2024

The reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for putting an illegal gillnet in the Magalloway River in the northern Oxford County territory was doubled Thursday. Operation Game Thief, working with the Maine Warden Service, is now offering a $2,000 reward. “The additional reward was donated by a concerned citizen in the area.” The Magalloway River is one of Maine’s premier native brook trout fisheries. The gillnet was about 36 feet long and 9 feet deep. Gillnets kill whatever becomes entrapped in them.

Brunswick residents with wells face testing barriers in wake of chemical spill

TIMES RECORD • August 29, 2024

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection said it will consider reimbursing homeowners up to $300 for one set of expensive PFAS well water tests near Brunswick Landing, but only if any PFAS levels resulted from this month’s major firefighting foam spill. The DEP will still test a select few wells east of the former Naval air base for PFAS in accordance to its still-developing sampling plan. How exactly residents can prove any contamination in their well is related to the recent spill and not preexisting is unclear.

Burning truck releases diesel into Long Creek, gravel wetland near Maine Mall

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 29, 2024

A tractor-trailer full of produce caught fire in a South Portland parking lot near the Maine Mall early Thursday, officials said, leaking roughly 70 gallons of diesel and requiring the use of firefighting foam to extinguish the blaze. Firefighters determined that the truck’s diesel fuel was burning, and they estimated that 70 gallons were released. Crews extinguished the fire with 47 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) – the same material accidentally released at Brunswick Executive Airport on Aug. 19 – which is known to contain PFAS “forever chemicals.” Firefighters also laid containment booms to try and catch fuel and foam that may have flowed into a gravel wetland and branch of Long Creek. Despite that effort, some diesel flowed into both areas. Officials are advising pedestrians to avoid the area.

Letter: Keep your cats indoors

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 29, 2024

Our neighborhood kitty, Buttons, has passed away from being hit by a vehicle on very busy Union Street in Bangor. Outside is no place for cats. They can’t survive wild animals, wild people or multi-ton vehicles. Keep them indoors. ~ Jane E. Deane, Bangor

Mainers may see more savings from using electricity during off hours

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 29, 2024

Maine regulators on Monday expanded their study of time-of-use rates that would bill customers depending on when they use electricity. The Public Utilities Commission studied the issue at the direction of the Legislature and reported in November that “carefully designed” rate changes are “likely to shift load, reduce peaks and thus meaningfully reduce overall costs for ratepayers.” Time-of-use rates encourage electricity use at off-peak times to give ratepayers an incentive to wait, for example, to charge their cars overnight rather than immediately after work when many utility customers typically use electricity. Switching to times of day when most utility customers don’t use much power also helps ease electricity loads on the Maine and New England grids.

Acadia-related spending drops for second year as fewer people visit

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 29, 2024

Nearly 4 million people who visited Acadia National Park in 2023 spent $475 million in and around Bar Harbor – a figure that’s down slightly from 2022 but up significantly from pre-pandemic numbers, according to a new report from the National Park Service. Spending by 3.88 million park visitors last year also supported 6,000 jobs and had a cumulative benefit of $685 million to the wider Down East economy, the park service reported. Superintendent Kevin Schneider said in a statement. “We’re proud that Acadia National Park not only offers visitors an extraordinary experience but significantly supports local businesses.”

Scientists express concern about scale of foam spill, the latest in a long, dirty history at former base

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 29, 2024

The concentration and diversity of toxic forever chemicals released in last week’s firefighting foam spill at the Brunswick Executive Airport is even higher – and according to some scientists, even worse – than what was first announced by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Last week, a malfunctioning fire suppression system discharged 51,450 gallons of firefighting foam 4 to 5 feet deep in Hangar 4, emptying into the sewer and stormwater drains. The Aug. 19 spill is believed to be among the nation’s worst in 30 years. State and local officials have reassured the public that the public drinking water supply is safe. Gail Carlson, head of Colby College’s Buck Lab for Climate and Environment, said, “I’d be scared if I lived there…I’ve been working in this field for a long time and I’ve never seen numbers like these.”

Column: Not a bad time to go to work

CENTRAL MAINE • August 29, 2024

Almost without our noticing it, Maine has become a better place to work. There’s more than enough room for new industry in the vast northern spaces. Plenty of forest land is under conservation easements, and along much of the coast the primacy of tourism will keep any unwelcome or unwise changes at bay. Beyond the big projects, there’s intense interest in local economies. There are well over a hundred farmers’ markets with more being added yearly, and “local food” has also spurred growth in restaurants, breweries and year-round stores. All this suggests that Maine, which has avoided the problems that can arise from unchecked growth, may be on a sustainable course for the generations yet to come. If you’re a young Mainer, you can probably find an interesting job here. If you’re a visitor, there may finally be enough here to tempt you to settle down and raise a family. ~ Douglas Rooks

Western Maine Audubon presents “Legislative Summary,” a talk by Maine Audubon’s Nick Lund

DAILY BULLDOG • August 28, 2024

Western Maine Audubon is sponsoring a live talk by Maine Audubon’s Advocacy and Outreach Manager, Nick Lund, on the organization’s legislative victories in the 131st Maine Legislature. September 11, 7 pm, in Thomas Auditorium of UMF’s Preble Hall, Farmington. Free and open to the public.

Wardens pull illegal gillnet from Oxford County river; $1,000 reward offered for info

SUN JOURNAL • August 28, 2024

The Maine Warden Service is seeking the public’s help to learn who put an illegal gillnet in the Magalloway River, a “premier trout” stream, in the northern Oxford County territory. Maine Operation Game Thief is offering $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact Operation Game Thief at 1-800-ALERT-US. They can also submit a tip online through the Maine Operation Game Thief app “Tip 411” or through the website at www.maineogt.org.