News & Press
E.P.A. Wanted Years to Study Lead Paint Rule. It Got 90 Days.
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to revise its nearly 17-year-old standard for dangerous levels of lead in paint and dust within one year, a rare legal move that amounts to a sharp rebuff of President Trump and Scott Pruitt, the E.P.A. administrator. The decision also called attention… Read more »
Senator Collins Applauded for Support of Tax Incentives to Create Forest-Based Jobs and Fight Climate Change
A bipartisan effort to attract investment in climate-friendly, biobased manufacturing jobs, The Renewable Chemicals Act of 2017, was introduced late yesterday in the U.S. Senate, sponsored by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and co-sponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and others. The legislation, if it passes, will create a production tax credit or an investment tax… Read more »
Strategy Center Joins Two Lawsuits Challenging Trump EPA
PORTLAND, Maine, August 14, 2017–The Environmental Health Strategy Center today announced it has joined two lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency for rewriting rules that determine how the agency will regulate toxic chemicals found in consumer products, building materials, and workplaces as well as in drinking water and food. Earthjustice, the nation’s… Read more »
Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto to Pass Law Helping Rural Maine Families Access Safe and Affordable Drinking Water
LD 1263 creates fund to help families treat arsenic-contaminated well water. AUGUSTA, Maine, August 3, 2017—A safe drinking water law, passed yesterday by the Maine Legislature through a decisive bipartisan override of the Governor’s veto, will help Maine families who need to treat arsenic-contaminated well water. It’s the second safe drinking water law the… Read more »
Maine Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto To Pass Unprecedented Law Phasing Out Flame Retardants
Passed via dramatic veto override, new law will protect firefighters and families from toxic chemicals in household furniture AUGUSTA, Maine, August 2, 2017—Decisively overriding the Governor’s veto, Maine legislators have passed the first law in the nation to phase out all toxic flame retardants in upholstered furniture, protecting the health of families and firefighters. “Once… Read more »
Governor LePage Vetoes Important Bills That Would Protect Maine Firefighters and Families from Harmful Chemicals
Legislature Will Convene Tomorrow for Potential Override LD 182 would phase out toxic flame retardants in household furniture.LD 1263 would help low-income families treat well water for arsenic. AUGUSTA, Maine, August 1, 2017—Two common-sense laws that would help protect Maine people from toxic chemicals, LD 182 and LD 1263, were vetoed today by Governor LePage.… Read more »
Firefighters, Families, and Lawmakers Urge Legislature To Vote to Phase Out Toxic Flame Retardants
“He was my hero,” Therese Flaherty said of her husband, a firefighter who died of a rare form of cancer. Today would have been their 48th wedding anniversary. AUGUSTA, Maine, July 19, 2017—Yarmouth resident Theresa Flaherty spent her 48th wedding anniversary at the State House today, urging Maine legislators to support a bill that would… Read more »
Toxic Industrial Chemicals Found in 10 Varieties of Macaroni and Cheese Powders
On National Macaroni and Cheese Day, July 14, National Coalition Urges Kraft Heinz to Lead the Industry by Pledging to Eliminate Any and All Sources of Phthalates NATIONWIDE, July 14, 2017—Laboratory testing of 10 varieties of macaroni and cheese products has revealed toxic industrial chemicals (known as phthalates) in the cheese powders of all… Read more »
New Trump EPA Rules Put Chemical Industry Interests Ahead of Public Health
Environmental health coalition disappointed by polluter-friendly rules The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced final rules today that establish the framework for implementation of the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act. Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Government Affairs Director Liz Hitchcock issued the following statement in response: “We are profoundly disappointed that the rules issued today depart dramatically… Read more »
Maine Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto and Passes Safe Drinking Water Law
New Law Will Help Boost Awareness and Testing of Arsenic-Contaminated Well Water Across Rural Maine AUGUSTA, Maine, June 19, 2017—In a major victory for bipartisan lawmaking, the Maine Legislature today overrode the governor’s veto of safe drinking water legislation. New law will begin this fall to help boost water testing and protect thousands of rural… Read more »