Drinking water testing to continue at Brunswick properties for one year in wake of foam spill

MAINE PUBLIC • September 27, 2024

Drinking water at more than 30 properties in Brunswick has been tested in the wake of last month's spill of firefighting foam at the former naval airbase. State regulators say all the samples fall below Maine's interim drinking water standards for PFAS. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection said the drinking water will be tested once every three months for the next year. The next tests are scheduled for December. Most PFAS concentrations continue to decline in the watershed near the spill, but the DEP said they have not returned to pre-spill levels.

Appeal over denial of Saco development goes to state’s high court

FORECASTER • September 27, 2024

The legal fight over a proposed 332-unit mixed residential development in Saco, the Lincoln Village development, will continue up to Maine’s highest court. In mid-September, the developer filed a notice of appeal after a Maine Superior Court justice ruled for the city of Saco in August. In October 2023, the Saco Planning Board rejected the development on final approval, finding that it did not meet requirements on five criteria: traffic; sewage disposal; aesthetic, cultural and natural values; conformity with local ordinances and plans; and impact on adjoining municipality.

Opinion: Prioritizing local agriculture

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 27, 2024

Supporting locally-sourced food helps keep food accessible and affordable and protect our local and global environment. Creating more Maine markets for Maine producers and increasing access to Maine food is one of our “Maine Won’t Wait” climate action goals. As your state senator, I am committed to continuing our efforts to support Maine’s farmers and build a food system that benefits all Mainers. ~ Sen. Henry Ingwersen

Why We Need Strong Endangered Species Act Protections for Maine Wildlife

NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • September 26, 2024

Maine’s natural beauty is defined by its forests, coastlines, rivers, and wildlife, all of which play an important role in the state’s ecological health and economy. However, many species that call Maine home are facing significant threats from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.  The Endangered Species Act (ESA), passed in 1973, is one of the most effective legal tools we have to protect threatened and endangered species across the United States. In Maine, the ESA is especially important for several species, such as the Atlantic salmon, Canada lynx, Furbish lousewort, and Piping Plover. If we value these amazing plant and animal species, we need to defend the ESA against attempts to weaken these common-sense protections and push for opportunities to strengthen this bedrock environmental law for future generations. 

Outlook sunny at offshore wind conference

MAINE PUBLIC • September 26, 2024

The American Floating Offshore Wind Technical Summit (Afloat) is taking place in Portland this week. Stakeholders, investors and developers from all over the world are discussing the future of floating wind power in the U.S. and, specifically, the Gulf of Maine. Former President Trump has said on the campaign trail he'd like to put a stop to any offshore wind projects on his first day in office, if elected. Whether he'd be able to do that, either through executive order, as he claims, or through the federal court system, as some experts warn, is uncertain. But several attendees at the summit on Tuesday said they're not worried about having to slow down nascent projects.

UMaine research delves into climate needs of vulnerable people

MAINE PUBLIC • September 26, 2024

Maine should do a better job engaging low income and disadvantaged people in planning for climate change, according to a new University of Maine study. Poverty concerns should be at the heart of the state's climate strategies, said researchers from the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. Many Maine residents struggle with getting basic needs such as food, shelter and jobs, according to the report. Those necessities "are not being met, and the connection between energy/climate solutions and meeting basic needs is not clear," study authors said in a report delivered to the Maine Climate Council.

Island Explorer gets 10 millionth passenger

MAINE PUBLIC • September 26, 2024

The Island Explorer bus service at Acadia National Park hit a new milestone yesterday with its 10 millionth passenger. Beth Gearhart, from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania was the 10 millionth passenger. An Acadia first-timer, she took the bus from her hotel to Sand Beach to go hiking, and on her return trip was informed she was the notable rider. This is the Island Explorer's 25th operating season, and in that time, it's estimated that the service has eliminated more than 3.6 million private vehicle trips in the park and has prevented the release over 33,000 tons of greenhouse gases and 51 tons of smog-causing pollutants.

South Portland launches intervention plan against invasive emerald ash borer

MAINE PUBLIC • September 26, 2024

The city of South Portland is launching an intervention plan against the invasive emerald ash borer. The beetle, which has killed millions of ash trees across the country, established in Maine in 2018. Officials say they're using $30,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the project. The city will replace any removed trees with another, native species of tree.

Maine commissioner named VP of national agricultural association

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 26, 2024

Maine Agriculture Commissioner Amanda Beal was elected vice president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture for the coming year at its annual meeting this week in Indianapolis. She’s on track to become president of the association for 2026, when Maine will host the organization’s annual meeting in Portland.

Letter: Propane school buses the clean energy option of the future

CENTRAL MAINE • September 26, 2024

By 2040, the World LP Gas Association predicts that renewable propane could meet half of the world’s demand for propane. Renewable propane is made from feedstock like plant and vegetable oils, animal fats and used cooking oils. Conventional propane comes from oil and natural gas refining. In conjunction with O’Connor Bus Sales, Bonny Eagle MSAD 6 is the first district east of the Rocky Mountains to use renewable propane. Of the 38 buses we run on a daily basis, 30 of them are powered by propane. The fuel is dispensed by the largest propane fueling station in the state, and fueling is easy, taking just minutes. ~ Sarah Marean, Director of Transportation, Bonny Eagle, School Administrative District 6, Buxton

Maine boy’s bull moose puts him one step closer to grand slam

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 26, 2024

It brought Drake Henderson, 11, of Corinna one animal closer to his goal of a grand slam when he shot a nearly 800-pound bull moose Tuesday. A grand slam consists of harvesting a turkey, a bear, a moose and a deer in the same year. Drake already had his turkey and bear before he went moose hunting.

Maine woman shoots big bull moose with black powder rifle

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 25, 2024

Cynthia Tomah of Princeton shot the biggest bull moose she or Tobey Brook Guide Services has ever killed. But it wasn’t her first time with black powder. She has shot all of her large game animals with a muzzleloader, her husband and guide service co-owner Toby Tomah said Tuesday.

Communities weigh whether Kennebec River dams should come down

TIMES RECORD • September 25, 2024

The removal of the Edwards Dam in 1999 is what Pete Didisheim, advocacy director for the National Resources Council of Maine, calls “the start of the modern dam removal movement.” It paved the way for similar efforts nationwide. This year, four additional dams up for relicensing under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s purview interrupt the Kennebec River’s natural movement of wildlife, which has many wondering if the river could ever flow freely.

Wabanaki Alliance announces change in leadership

TIMES RECORD • September 25, 2024

The Wabanaki Alliance has hired Penobscot Nation Ambassador Maulian Bryant as the next executive director of the organization. She succeeds John Dieffenbacher-Krall, who will retire at the end of this year. Established in June 2020, the Wabanaki Alliance comprises the four Wabanaki Nations living in five distinct communities in Maine — Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi’kmaq Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe with reservations at Motahkomikuk and Sipayik, and Penobscot Nation. It was created to educate people about the need for securing the inherent sovereignty of the tribes in Maine.

Maine names new director of outdoor recreation

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 25, 2024

Jeff McCabe is the new director of Maine’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, the state announced Wednesday. The outdoor recreation office is a part of Maine’s tourism office in the Department of Economic and Community Development. McCabe, a former Democratic majority leader in the Maine House, had served as deputy director of outdoor recreation since November. About 32,000 people work in the outdoor recreation industry in Maine, which contributes about $3.3 billion annually.

Acadia park ranger and ‘belligerent’ man injured during arrest

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 25, 2024

A park ranger and local man both suffered minor injuries during the man’s arrest last week. The man was arrested in Acadia National Park last week after allegedly blocking a park road with his truck . According to Acadia National Park spokesperson Amanda Pollock, on Sept. 14, rangers responded to a report of a man who was possibly intoxicated and blocking a road within the park with his truck. When park rangers arrived, they found Brandon Hodgdon, 51, of Tremont, “to be heavily intoxicated, belligerent, and not compliant.”

Visit Portland announces new shuttle for cruise ship tourists

FORECASTER • September 25, 2024

On Sept. 13, Visit Portland announced a new City Loop Shuttle aimed at cruise ship passengers. The new shuttle service is part of the PortShare Promise program created last year in a collaboration between Visit Portland, Cruise Maine, Cruise Portland Maine and the Maine Office of Tourism. The City Loop Shuttle route will have 10 stops between the Eastern Promenade and the Arts District, expanding the region of the city that cruise tourists can access from their starting point of Ocean Gateway.

Common Ground Country Fair breaks attendance records

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 24, 2024

More than 69,000 people descended on the small Waldo County town of Unity this past weekend to attend the Common Ground Country Fair. That’s the highest number ever for the three-day event celebrating rural living and organic agriculture, organized by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. “While MOFGA is not aiming to break records, the number of fairgoers speaks to the importance of, and interest in, supporting a thriving rural economy,” the organization said in a statement.

29 acres conserved on a midcoast mountain

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 24, 2024

Two organizations have just conserved 29 acres on Spruce Mountain in the midcoast town of Rockport. The Coastal Mountains Land Trust was able to protect the land through a partnership with Maine Water, a public water utility, according to a press release. It joins 1,500 acres that are already protected by the land trust across 15 towns in the Penobscot Bay region. Maine Water also announced that it donated $10,000 to help the land trust with its conservation efforts.

Crews battle fire at Charleston logging operation

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 24, 2024

Crews battled a fire at a Charleston logging operation on Monday. A piece of machinery caught fire about 2:33 p.m. at the operation on Davis Hill Road, Charleston fire Chief Ethan Amero wrote in a Monday social media post. The location of the blaze presented difficulties for firefighters because it wasn’t easily accessible and there weren’t water sources nearby.