By Brianna Bires WABI-TV news story Watch full news story. AUGUSTA, Maine. (WABI)- “This proposal will increase air emissions and result in worse air quality in the state of Maine.” Governor LePage has released a proposal that may affect Maine’s air. A public hearing was held in Augusta to discuss that proposal which would remove ninety-eight Read More
clean air
Environmental, Tourism Groups Oppose Efforts to Change Pollution Limit Standards
By Mal Leary Maine Public news story For years, Maine has been part of a regional effort to reduce ozone pollution in the air that exacerbates asthma and has been linked to other health problems. Now, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection wants to adopt less stringent standards and move most of Maine out of Read More
LePage Administration Wants Most of Maine Withdrawn from Regional Air Pollution Program
Forest industry supporters of the proposal say Maine has little impact on air quality problems in the Northeast, but critics say it makes no sense to roll back a program that has reduced pollution here. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A LePage administration proposal to withdraw most of Read More
Health, Environment, Acadia Experts Blast DEP Proposal to Remove 98% of Maine from Smog Protection Region
AUGUSTA, Maine – Today, at a news conference and public hearing, public health and conservation advocates strongly criticized a proposal by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that would roll back pollution standards that protect Maine’s air from harmful smog and other air pollution. In his final months in office, the LePage Administration is Read More
Maine Shouldn’t Go Backward on Ozone Regulations
Bangor Daily News editorial Ozone is harmful, sometimes deadly, pollutant. Maine has worked with 11 other states to our west and south to successfully reduce ozone levels. But the pollutant remains problematic, especially in the summer when the Maine Department of Environmental Protection issues warnings about high ozone levels encouraging people at risk for respiratory Read More
Study Links Air Pollution to Drop in National Park Visitors
Acadia, included in the study, does occasionally exceed air quality standards but the worst offenders are in California. by Matthew Brown, Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story DENVER – Visitors appear to be steering clear of some U.S. national parks or cutting visits short because of pollution levels that are comparable to what’s found Read More
Meet the New EPA Boss, Same as the Old Boss
Scott Pruitt’s resignation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week is unquestionably a win for our health and environment. Ethical pitfalls aside, Pruitt pursued an agenda that explicitly favored polluting industries over environmental protections, undermining the core mission of the EPA. However, even with Pruitt’s departure, there are no halcyon days to come. Let’s Read More
Next EPA Chief Must Clean Up Pruitt’s Mess
He transformed the agency from one informed by science into one dominated by industry. Portland Press Herald editorial In a letter more appropriate for a vassal than a Cabinet member, Scott Pruitt, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, resigned last week, finally overcome by a torrent of scandals. But before he used the EPA as Read More
Environmentalists Applaud Pruitt’s Resignation, but Worry about the Future of the Agency
By Susan Sharon Maine Public news story Environmental groups in Maine are applauding the resignation of embattled Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt. President Trump announced Pruitt’s resignation in a tweet Thursday. Pruitt has been under scrutiny for his travel spending, security costs, dealings with industry lobbyists and alleged misuse of government resources. He had Read More