With all the hoopla surrounding the ringing in of the New Year, you might have missed the news about a pretty big deal in Portland, Maine’s most populace city. On Wednesday, January 3, the City Council voted unanimously to prohibit the use of synthetic pesticides in Portland. This is, as City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau said, Read More
pesticides
Brunswick Adopts New Pesticide Rules
Original ordinance from 2007 limited use in town by Juliette Laaka Times Record news story Brunswick will now give preference to organic pesticides over chemical treatments on all town-owned land, thanks to ordinance amendments adopted by the town council on Monday. The original land care ordinance, adopted in 2007, limited the use of pesticides on Read More
Legislative Panel Unanimously Rejects Pesticides Bill Proposed by LePage
The proposal, which mirrored model legislation promoted by the American Legislative Exchange Council, would have prohibited local restrictions stricter than the state’s. by Kevin Miller, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A legislative committee has voted unanimously to reject a bill that would have prohibited Maine cities and towns from adopting pesticides Read More
Opposition to LD 1505, An Act to Create Consistency in the Regulation of Pesticides
Senator Davis, Representative Martin, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government, my name is Sarah Lakeman and I am the Sustainable Maine Project Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I appreciate this opportunity to testify in opposition to LD 1505. The Maine Board of Pesticides Control lists on Read More
NRCM Leadership, Then and Now
By NRCM Board President Kate Rush and founding NRCM Board member Bill Townsend One afternoon this summer, I had coffee with Bill Townsend, a founding Board member of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Serving as the second President of the Board, Bill has served as a board member or advisor for NRCM since 1960, Read More
South Portland on the Right Track with Comprehensive Pesticide Ordinance
Maintaining a natural lawn is a cheap option that’s healthier for Casco Bay and our pollinators. By Andy Jones, Maine community organizer with the Toxics Action Center in Portland Portland Press Herald op-ed I support the city of South Portland’s efforts to reduce toxins and protect Casco Bay by passing a comprehensive pesticide ordinance. When Read More
Portland Committee Supports Restricting Synthetic Pesticides Within City Limits
The proposed ordinance is modeled after a similar measure under consideration in South Portland. By Dennis Hoey, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Two Portland city councilors said Tuesday that they support a proposal that would significantly restrict the use of synthetic pesticides in the city. Portland’s pesticide ordinance, which is being drafted, should Read More
Pesticides Ordinance Would Have Portland Flourishing Responsibly
Our lack of synthetic land-care chemical regulations sets us apart from other progressive communities. By Avery Yale Kamila, co-founder of Portland Protectors, is a mother, a freelance writer and a Press Herald food columnist. Portland Press Herald op-ed Our lack of synthetic land-care chemical regulations sets us apart from other progressive communities. It’s no secret Read More
Pesticide Disposal Program Aims to Help Farmers, Homeowners
By Abigail Curtis, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Got pesticides and are unsure of what to do with them? A state program aims to help, by allowing Mainers to dispose of banned or unusable pesticides next month at sites in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta and Portland. According to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Read More