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- Mercury program makes it pay to do the right thingPortland Press Herald Staff, Portland Press Herald, 1/20/09. It always feels good to do the right thing. But it feels even better when you get paid to do it. The state has provided such an opportunity, and it's one that every eligible property owner should try to grab a hold of.
- Mercury recycling program has silver lining: Store credit of $5Portland Press Herald, 1/19/09. Keeping toxic mercury out of Maine's trash is now a little easier, and more rewarding.
- Arctic blast drives people indoorsBangor Daily News, 1/16/09. A bone-numbing blast of arctic air settled over the Northeast for an extended stay with temperatures Thursday that fell to 38 below zero in northern Maine.
- Cities take extra steps to keep homeless warmPortland Press Herald, 1/16/09. The bitter cold that hit Maine on Thursday prompted Portland officials to open shelters early, visit known homeless encampments during the night to offer blankets and aid, and expand foot patrols to make sure that people needing shelter were safe.
- Sub-Zero Weather Drives More Mainers to SheltersMPBN, 1/16/09. The sub-zero weather that swept into Maine two nights ago is not expected to leave until the latter part of the weekend. Already, icy winds and overnight temperatures plummeting below zero throughout the state have homeless shelters overflowing and municipal officials scouring neighborhoods for people in need of help.
- Dangerous Arctic cold blasts MaineBangor Daily News, 1/15/09. As a cold blast hit the state Wednesday, forecasters warned that wind chills could make it feel like 47 below zero in some parts of northern Maine overnight and Thursday.
- Expect fffrrrrigid temperatures over next three daysMaine Today, 1/15/09. Haul out the long underwear, slap on your overcoat, and don't forget the warm gloves and scarf: the weather over the next three days is going to be fffrrrrrrigid.
- Katahdin warming centers get chilly responseBangor Daily News, 1/15/09. A brutal cold snap has settled over Maine, but warming centers to help Katahdin region residents escape high heating bills haven’t yet gotten much use, officials said.
- State needs parks planBangor Daily News, 1/15/09. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is calling out Maine and 36 other states for failing to file plans for reducing air pollution near national parks and other federally owned sites popular with tourists.
- Stuck in the deep freezePortland Press Herald, 1/15/09. Jim Pellegrini has a pretty straightforward approach to deciding whether it's too cold to work outdoors building homes.
- Lead rule weighs on kids' clothiersBangor Daily News, 1/12/09. Adrienne Chandler was worried. The owner of The Growing Place, a Hammond Street store which sells used clothing, toys and other children’s items, Chandler was facing possible closure of her business because of a law limiting the sale of children’s items with high lead levels that goes into effect Feb. 10.
- New law on lead causes worrySun Journal, 1/9/09. A new law requiring that children's clothing, toys and books are free of lead and other toxins will not affect thrift stores, but it will apply to new products, including handcrafted items, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday.
- RANDOLPH: Rabid raccoon leads to warnings to pet ownersKennebec Journal, 12/16/08. Two dogs recently killed a rabid raccoon on the Old Narrow Gauge Rail Trail.
- State disputes air quality reportBangor Daily News, 12/15/08. State environmental officials are reassuring the public about air quality around some schools after a national news report suggested that students in some Maine towns could be at risk from industrial pollutants.
- Probe finds air toxins around Maine schoolsSun Journal, 12/9/08. Two northern Maine schools are in toxic hot spots and several tri-county schools are located in areas likely to have poisonous chemicals and cancer-causing agents in the air, according to an investigative report by USA Today.
- 5 myths on the dangers of diningBee Wilson, Bangor Daily News, 12/4/08. You made it through Thanksgiving dinner. No one contracted campylobacter from the turkey or E. coli from the creamed spinach. You even survived your mom’s famous sweet potato casserole. But now you’re eyeing the leftover stuffing in your fridge, feeling vaguely anxious. Is it safe to eat? Is anything safe to eat anymore? It can be so hard to keep up in this world of endless food scares. One minute we’re alarmed by salmonella in jalapenos. Now it’s melamine in milk from China. What next?
- Firm must remove toxic soilBangor Daily News, 11/25/08. State regulators have ordered the former owner of the HoltraChem facility in Orrington to remove hundreds of thousands of tons of contaminated soil from the site in what would be one of the largest environmental cleanup projects in Maine history.
- Pesticide spraying hearing in BangorBangor Daily News, 11/19/08. State regulators will hold a public hearing Friday in Bangor on a proposal to tighten the rules on aerial spraying of pesticides near homes, businesses and other areas where people would be at risk of exposure.
- Rabies clinic to be heldSun Journal, 11/17/08. A rabies clinic will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the town office.
- Eco-friendly features put Education Center at head of classKennebec Journal, 11/16/08. Walls covered in sunflower seed shells? Stools made of seat belts? It looks a lot better -- and serves more long-term purposes -- than you may think.
- Maine joins effort to force stricter mercury rulesBangor Daily News, 10/30/08. Maine and six other Northeastern states are petitioning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to crack down on airborne mercury that drifts into the region and builds up to unsafe levels in fish.
- Mold sends Med-Care crews to trailersSun Journal, 10/24/08. Mold and several building code violations within the Med-Care Ambulance Service station forced employees this week and last into two mobile homes parked on site, according to Director Dean Milligan.
- A natural connection for childrenBangor Daily News, 10/3/08. Thirty years from now, a new generation of policymakers will be asked to make critical decisions about the fate of the world’s remaining wetlands, forests and streams.
- JAX lab faces fine for hazardous waste violationsVillage Soup, 10/2/08. The Jackson Laboratory faces a possible EPA fine for violations of state and federal hazardous waste regulations, and for violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
- Hypodermic Needles Turning Up Near Popular Walking TrailMPBN, 9/15/08. It's no surprise to see rubbish washing up at your local beach. Cigarette butts and plastic bags are typical sights. But Back Cove in Portland has the added burden of dealing with a most worrisome type of trash: hypodermic needles.
- Rains wash pollutants into ocean, prompt advisoriesPortland Press Herald, 8/18/08. Eight southern Maine beaches recently posted signs warning swimmers to stay out of the water.
- Experts caution novices not to forage for mushroomsPortland Press Herald, 8/15/08. Mushrooms are thriving in Maine this summer. They're popping up in woods, on lawns, in vegetable gardens, in the mulch of perennial beds -- even at the edge of gravel driveways.
- Collection set for home toxicsKennebec Journal, 8/14/08. Maine residents with banned or unusable pesticides lurking in their basements, garages or back sheds will have a chance this fall to get rid of the stuff -- legally and safely.
- Bacteria, our friendBangor Daily News Staff, Bangor Daily News, 8/11/08. Forget what Mom said about cleanliness being next to godliness. A little dirt, and the bacteria that’s in it, is actually critical to human health.
- Receding red tide allows clam harvestBangor Daily News, 8/1/08. The red tide appears to be turning. For the first time in weeks, all of the Maine coast again is open to harvesting clams due to steady declines in levels of the toxic algae known as red tide.
- Tomalley TroubleBDN Staff, Bangor Daily News, 8/1/08. With warnings about tomatoes and then jalapeno peppers tainted with salmonella, food safety has been a concern this summer. So it is not surprising that a federal warning against eating lobster tomalley quickly led to fears about the crustaceans, resulting in a short-lived ban on lobster shipments to Japan.
- Group Wants Deadline For Cleanup of Holtrachem SiteMPBN, 7/31/08. The owner of the former HoltraChem Manufacturing Company in Orrington is not doing enough to clean up the thousands of pounds of mercury-contaminated soil that still sits on the banks of the Penobscot River.
- FDA warns against eating lobster tomalleyPortland Press Herald, 7/29/08. The government warned consumers Monday not to eat the soft, green substance found in the body cavity of lobsters, saying it may be contaminated with a toxin.
- Environmentalists Fear Turn To Wood Heat May Harm Air QualityMPBN, 7/23/08. As Mainers seek alternatives to oil heat, there is growing concern that they may be sacrificing air quality by burning more wood fuels.
- No ambiguity: Lobster is safe, green stuff isn'tKennebec Journal Staff, Kennebec Journal, 7/23/08. The intersection of commerce and public health can be a dangerous place.
- Switch to wood heat could be damaging air qualityMorning Sentinel, 7/23/08. Maine's air quality could worsen if thousands of homeowners switch from oil heat to wood pellet stoves, according to a study done for the state's oil dealers.
- Two deaths underscore dangers of lightningPortland Press Herald, 7/22/08. You can be far away and still be hit, so no place outdoors is safe, says an NWS meteorologist.
- Callahan Mine pollution risk justifies studyBangor Daily News, 7/18/08. The risks from the contaminated former Callahan Mine site to human health and the environment are sufficient to warrant conducting a feasibility study of cleanup options, according to an official with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Lobster eaters urged to avoid tomalley after some test positive for red tide toxinsBangor Daily News, 7/18/08. State health and fisheries officials are urging lobster eaters to avoid the green, gooey innards known as the tomalley due to risks of shellfish poisoning.
- Maine CDC: Red tide adviceMorning Sentinel, 7/18/08. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a renewed warning today about red tide poisoning, and advised lobster lovers not to eat lobster tomalley.
- Red Tide Closes More Shellfish AreasEllsworth American, 7/17/08. An increase in the level of the phytoplankton that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) has forced the Department of Marine Resources to close large areas of lower Blue Hill Bay, Frenchman Bay and the waters around Mount Desert Island to the harvesting of all shellfish.
- Study of mercury pollution progressesPortland Press Herald, 7/16/08. A federal court approves continuing research into methods of cleaning up the Penobscot River.
- Mercury study of Penobscot approvedPortland Press Herald, 7/15/08. A federal judge in Bangor has approved the second phase of a study looking at mercury pollution in the Penobscot River.
- High ozone levels prompt call for tougher limitsPortland Press Herald, 7/10/08. An air-quality alert is issued after the state exceeds the standard for healthy air again.
- Red Tide CautionBangor Daily News Staff, Bangor Daily News, 7/10/08. With this year’s red tide outbreak predicted to be worse than 2005’s historic levels, shellfish consumers should be reassured that the state’s testing system keeps tainted mussels and clams off the market.
- Air quality alert still in effectPortland Press Herald, 7/9/08. The hot, muggy weather this week will stick around until this evening, when thunderstorms are expected to move in and clear the air.
- Florida red tide toxin may contribute to cancerPortland Press Herald, 7/9/08. Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say they've found evidence that a type of red-tide toxin that gets into the air from sea spray attacks and damages DNA in the lungs of laboratory rats. The finding suggests that the toxin, when inhaled, could contribute to cancer, although more study is needed.
- It's not the heat, it's the ozonePortland Press Herald, 7/9/08. Tuesday's hot, muggy weather ushered in a great day to escape to the beach, but also brought unhealthy concentrations of ozone, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
- High temperatures, poor air quality prompt warningsPortland Press Herald, 7/8/08. The state Department of Environmental Protection issued a poor air quality alert on Monday, which went into effect at 10 a.m. this morning and is expected to last through 1 a.m. Wednesday. The alert was issued for Cumberland, York, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Kennebec and Waldo counties.
- Tainted mussels came from closed flatMaine Today, 7/8/08. Maine health officials say tainted mussels that sent three people to the hospital came from an area that was closed to harvesting.
- Race is on to keep bulbs with mercury out of waste streamPortland Press Herald, 7/7/08. Ecomaine will monitor recycling efforts closely as Mainers begin discarding millions of the bulbs.
- Shellfish processors brace for red tideBangor Daily News, 7/7/08. The 2005 season is generally considered among the worst for red tide closures, but officials with the Maine Department of Marine Resources fear this season could be even worse.
- Tainted Canadian clams cause illnessesMaine Today, 7/7/08. Public health officials in New Brunswick say charges could be filed after eight people came down with paralytic shellfish poisoning.
- Three hospitalized for red tide poisoning in Washington CountyBangor Daily News, 7/7/08. Three people were admitted to a Machias hospital over the weekend with symptoms of red tide poisoning, Maine’s second documented case in less than a year after a nearly 30-year absence.
- Air quality poor around AcadiaPortland Press Herald, 6/26/08. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has issued an air quality alert today for the mid-coast region and high elevations in and around the Acadia area (Port Clyde through Mt. Desert).
- DEP wants your thoughts on water qualityPortland Press Herald, 6/18/08. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection hosts a public hearing today about the water quality goals for a number of rivers, streams and marine spots across the state.
- Coastal towns take issue with pesticidesPortland Press Herald, 6/14/08. A rebellion against lawn pesticides may be sprouting on the Maine coast.
- Lyme disease threat comes back strongPortland Press Herald, 6/13/08. Experts say a greater number of infected ticks might have survived the winter because of the deep snow.
- Unhealthy ozone levels expected on coastPortland Press Herald, 6/6/08. Ground-level ozone concentrations are expected to reach unhealthy levels in the southwest coastal region of the state Saturday, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
- Franklin Memorial laboratory to offer pollen, mold reportsMorning Sentinel, 5/26/08. FARMINGTON -- The Franklin Memorial Hospital Medical Laboratory will soon begin providing pollen and mold level reports for the community as a public service.
- Lung Association: EPA Ozone Standards Fail To Protect The PublicMaine Public Broadcasting Network, 5/22/08. As of next week, the federal goverment, and the state of Maine, will adopt new health standards for ground level ozone.
- Otis: Imbibing the mysteries of waterBangor Daily News, 5/10/08. OTIS, Maine - Though the typical family uses about 200 gallons of it each day, few take the time to think about how clean, drinkable water gets to their taps.
- Get to know the hazards of using chemicals at homeDavid McCaskill, Portland Press Herald, 5/1/08. Every now and then you hear that a school or business was evacuated because of a "hazardous" chemical spill. Occasionally we read about a newly discovered "toxic" waste site.
- Bangor water deemed drug freeBangor Daily News, 4/24/08. BANGOR, Maine - Testing conducted this spring by the Bangor Water District shows that the city’s drinking water supply is free of pharmaceuticals, the district’s general manager reported Wednesday.
- Despite progress made, Maine's toxic waste sites still face a lot more workBangor Daily News, 4/19/08. They are found in nearly every corner of Maine - hazardous waste sites that threaten the air, water and health of residents.
- Health food store bans genetically modified itemsMorning Sentinel, 4/19/08. WATERVILLE -- Uncle Dean's Good Groceries is taking a stand against genetically modified organisms (GMO).
- Green coalition exults in new lawsKennebec Journal, 4/17/08. AUGUSTA -- A coalition of groups came to the Statehouse on Wednesday to celebrate new laws that they believe will help protect the environment.
- Legislature passes chemical-tracking billMaineToday.com, 4/16/08. The Legislature passed legislation today to track, and potentially ban, harmful chemicals used in household products.
- Chemical regulation: Pick your poisonBob Duchesne, Bangor Daily News, 4/11/08. Good public policy comes from a healthy debate, preferably founded on facts. Sen. Doug Smith ignores many facts while advising that Maine should go slow in regulating chemicals that could harm your child or kill you, "Chemical regulation a risky path" (BDN, April 1).
- Maine lab finds toxins in toysSun Journal, 4/9/08. PORTLAND (AP) - The Alliance for a Clean & Healthy Maine has found high levels chemicals that can cause health problems in children's toys and products.
- Playing with ToxinsEditorial Staff, Bangor Daily News, 3/27/08. Few would dispute that Americans now live in a toxic soup, with synthetic chemicals falling from the sky, leaching into drinking water, injected or absorbed in food, and emanating from materials in our homes and offices.
- Pingree bill listing hazards in toys worthwhileSr. Jackie Moreau, Portland Press Herald, 3/23/08. Saying that the state shouldn't monitor these threats to children is a mistake.
- On a mission for safe waterJohn Peckenham, Bangor Daily News, 3/20/08. The recent news coverage of pharmaceuticals in drinking water, "What’s in your water" (BDN, March 11), has caused many people to wonder what is in their drinking water.
- Bill would require schools to test kids’ blood for leadBangor Daily News, 3/1/08. All Maine children would have to have their blood tested for lead before being allowed to start school if a bill now before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee is passed. But at a public hearing Friday, the proposal drew opposition from Maine’s top public health official.
- Legislators told of need to track toxic chemicalsPortland Press Herald, 2/29/08. State House: Lawmakers are urged to protect kids by adopting new rules for household products.
- Maine to consider tracking toxins in toys, productsPortland Press Herald, 2/27/08. Two bills would require manufacturers to flag the use of certain chemicals.
- EPA pressured states on mercury rulesPortland Press Herald, 2/17/08. Documents show states were pushed to accept a more lenient policy rather than enact stricter regulations.
- Healthy air thanks to engineering triumphsDennis Kingman, Bangor Daily News, 2/11/08. Engineering successes benefit nearly every tangible aspect of our lives: our transportation system, energy infrastructure, health care system, communications system, trucks and automobiles, lighting, televisions, computers, appliances and even our homes and offices. The work of engineers also has an effect on something we can’t see: our indoor environment.
- Court sides with Maine, rules EPA ignored law on mercuryPortland Press Herald, 2/9/08. EPA emissions policy fails to do enough to protect human health, judges say.
- New Study Fuels Baby Bottle ConcernMaine Public Broadcasting Network, 2/7/08. For the past several years, research scientists have been sounding the alarm about the potential dangers of bisphenol, a chemical used to make a variety of plastic products, including baby bottles.
- Groups use 'social marketing' to aid environmentPortland Press Herald, 1/28/08. If 20% of the population changes behavior, activists believe the rest will follow
- Green coalition touts goalsKennebec Journal, 1/25/08. AUGUSTA -- Sandra Armington of Hallowell is worried about children who play with rubber duckies.
- House Democrats Take Aim At Toxins In Household ProductsMaine Public Broadcasting Network, 1/11/08. Maine lawmakers, environmentalists and others concerned about the safety of children's toys and other household products are gearing up for yet another big battle with the chemical industry.
- Tainted toys prompt new legislative billBangor Daily News, 1/11/08. Legislative leaders unveiled a series of proposals Thursday for removing lead and other potential toxins from toys and household items in response to growing public concern about hidden dangers in consumer products.
- EPA OKs plan to reduce mercuryBangor Daily News, 12/29/07. Federal environmental regulators have signed off on a plan to reduce mercury pollution in New England lakes, rivers and streams as part of an effort to lift widespread fish consumption advisories.
- Chemical gapBangor Daily News, 12/27/07. It’s now a familiar routine: The Bush administration weakens environmental rules, causing states to sue to protect their citizens, their health and environment.
- Get healthy, get hiking Jan. 1Portland Press Herald, 12/27/07. Coalition sponsors hike in Kezar Falls to promote physical, social, economic and environmental health.
- Baldacci targets toxic chemicalsPortland Press Herald, 12/18/07. AUGUSTA — Gov. John Baldacci said Monday that his 2008 legislative package will include recommendations from a task force to reduce toxic chemicals in consumer products.
- Take the next step in toxic product reformHannah Pingree, Bangor Daily News, 12/14/07. The holiday season is in full swing, but the spirit of giving has become tainted by headline news of toxic chemicals in children’s toys. An estimated 25 million dangerous toys have been recalled recently, and independent research has revealed that many toxic children’s products are still on store shelves.
- Web site helps parents select safe toysBangor Daily News, 12/6/07. BANGOR, Maine — Concerned over recent recalls of toys that contain high levels of lead, parents and other holiday shoppers have a new resource to help them select safe gifts for the young children on their lists.
- Maine Joins Suit Over Toxic Chemical Information PolicyMaine Public Broadcasting Network, 11/29/07
- Ripple effects when our drugs taint our waterMorning Sentinel, 10/26/07
- Getting the lead out? Mall does next best thingPortland Press Herald, 9/9/07
- Houlton waits to see full effects of water ruleBangor Daily News, 9/4/07
- Rockland: Groups join forces to gauge air pollutionBangor Daily News, 8/30/07
- Bottled Water Industry Facing Questions About the Product’s ImpactMaine Public Broadcasting Network, 8/27/07
- Editorial: Homegrown lead problemsBangor Daily News, 8/27/07
- Lead poisoning still sad fact for too many Maine kidsPortland Press Herald, 8/23/07
- Boiling point: Wood burners save money, but often anger neighborsKennebec Journal, 8/13/07
- Court’s rejection of water case disappoints Maine Indian tribesBangor Daily News, 8/10/07
- Household Chemicals Focus of Portland ConferenceJeanne Baron, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, 8/9/07
- Shellfish poisoning hospitalizes fourPortland Press Herald, 8/2/07
- Maine To Allow Genetically Modified "BT" CornSara Nics, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, 7/30/07
- The BEP gets a complex and controversial casePortland Press Herald, 7/28/07
- Mercury in the waterBangor Daily News, 7/26/07
- Eat fish or avoid it? Scientists weigh inPortland Press Herald, 7/24/07
- Toxic chemicals inside us are a nightmare we can endPortland Press Herald, 7/22/07
- Pesticide panel mulls Bt-modified cornBangor Daily News, 7/14/07
- Ashley Zook: Chemical testing results startlingBangor Daily News, 7/2/07
- Companies reach accord on cleanup of mine sitePortland Press Herald, 6/28/07
- Production good at new wind farmBangor Daily News, 6/28/07
- Baldacci, premier eye energy partnershipBangor Daily News, 6/27/07
- Disposing of DrugsBangor Daily News, 6/27/07
- Ground-level Ozone Not To Be Taken LightlyMurray Carpenter, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, 6/27/07
- Maine and New Brunswick to Cooperate on Reducing Greenhouse GasesSara Nics, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, 6/27/07
- Power plant seeks emissions licenseSun Journal, 6/27/07
- Settlement reached in Blue Hill mine cleanupBangor Daily News, 6/27/07
- Better living thru TSCABangor Daily News, 6/25/07
- No drugs in our watersKennebec Journal, 6/25/07
- Agent Orange report: Risks lowPortland Press Herald, 6/22/07
- Antiques With Mercury Are For Sale Again In MaineKeith McKeen, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, 6/22/07
- Oromocto, New Brunswick: Agent Orange report plays down riskBangor Daily News, 6/22/07
- Drive seeks safe disposal of unwanted medicationsPortland Press Herald, 6/16/07
- NEWFANGLED LIGHT BULB CLEANUP 101Kennebec Journal, 6/16/07
- Popular Energy-Saving Bulbs Pose Disposal ProblemMurray Carpenter, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, 6/14/07
- Tests on 13 Mainers find industrial chemicalsBangor Daily News, 6/12/07
- Maine's message to toymakers is clear: Get the lead out5/25/2008, Portland Press Herald. A new state law will give 'teeth to voluntary recalls,' but companies won't exactly be embracing it.
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