News & Press
Failure to Reapply Spells End to Federal Funding for Well Tests
Statewide, 150,000 people could be drinking from wells with higher concentrations of arsenic than those allowed by the federal government in public drinking water, according to a Dartmouth College study. Despite these alarming figures, the LePage administration continues to work against efforts to improve testing and provide necessary education to Mainer’s state-wide. Emma Halas-O’Connor, a… Read more »
Letter to the editor: Maine is well-positioned to lead in biobased products
Everyone in Maine agrees we need good jobs, and this article correctly highlights one industry with great potential – biobased manufacturing. “Biobased” means making products, materials and fuels out of plants instead of petroleum. In Maine, this means using our abundant biomass from forest, farm and sea. With business members like Grow-Tech, and other members… Read more »
Home Depot Says It Will Phase Out Chemical Used in Vinyl Flooring
Facing pressure from consumer groups, Home Depot said it would discontinue use of a potentially harmful chemical in its vinyl flooring by the end of the year. The retailer is asking about a half-dozen suppliers to phase out their use of ortho-phthalates, according to Stephen Holmes, a spokesman. Most of Home Depot’s flooring does not… Read more »
Groups Push to Add Pregnant Women in Chemical Reviews
AUGUSTA — Frustrated by the LePage administration’s handling of a toxics law, environmental and public health groups are pushing to require that the state consider pregnant women when reviewing and regulating products containing potentially harmful chemicals. Maine Department of Environmental Protection officials, however, warned that provisions of the bill would create a financial and administrative… Read more »
Lowe’s to Phase Out Toxic Flooring Chemical
Home improvement chain Lowe’s has said it would eliminate a hazardous chemical from its flooring products after activists launched a campaign to end their use. The chemicals known as phthalates lend flexibility to vinyl tiles and sheets, and Congress has banned them from children’s products over health concerns. In April, environmental and health activists conducted… Read more »
Maine Voices: Drinking Water of Maine Families Too Often Contaminated by Arsenic
Amy Volk, State Senator, Scarborough — As a state senator representing a district that is rapidly growing with people who come here to raise their families, I feel an obligation to do what I can to give children the best shot at healthy, productive lives. That means making sure that all children have access to… Read more »
LePage Veto Stops Arsenic Tests of Maine Well Water
AUGUSTA — A legislative effort to promote well-water testing in Maine was nixed this week when legislators failed to override a veto from Gov. Paul LePage. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Drew Gattine, D-Westbrook, was a response to recent scientific findings on arsenic, a carcinogen occurring naturally in the state’s bedrock, which is a particular… Read more »
LePage Veto Kills Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Mainers from Arsenic in Drinking Water
AUGUSTA – Health advocates, businesses, and parents were disappointed on Tuesday as they watched legislation to protect Maine families from arsenic in drinking water fall four votes short of the two-thirds majority needed in the Maine House of Representatives to override the Governor’s veto. LD 1162, An Act to Ensure Safe Drinking Water from All… Read more »
Senate Votes to Help More Mainers have Clean Drinking Water
AUGUSTA– This morning, The Maine State Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of the most recent version of LD 1162, “An Act to Ensure Safe Drinking Water for All Maine Families.” The bill was passed 22 to 13. Yesterday, the bill was passed to be engrossed in the House with 108 votes in favor, 40 votes… Read more »
House Votes to Help More Mainers have Clean Drinking Water
AUGUSTA– The State of Maine Legislature voted ought to pass as amended on LD 1162: An Act to Ensure Safe Drinking Water for All Maine Families, by a strongly bipartisan vote (Yeas 108 – Nays 40 – Absent 3 – Excused 0). The bipartisan legislation addresses the high level of naturally occurring contaminants such as… Read more »