Stories about Department of Environmental Protection
Group appeals permit for western Maine wind project
The Associated Press on Nov. 23, 2011, at 2:14 p.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — A group of residents is challenging a state permit allowing construction of the Saddleback Ridge Wind project in western Maine. Friends of Maine’s Mountains said it has filed an appeal with the state opposing the permit issued by the Department of Environmental Protection. Patriot Renewables of Boston ...
State employee says she was demoted after testifying about BPA
BANGOR, Maine — A state employee has sued the head of the Department of Environmental Protection alleging she was demoted after testifying before a legislative committee during her vacation about the dangers of the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA. Andrea Lani of Whitefield filed the lawsuit last week in U.S. ...
DEP says water, air in Wallagrass is safe after gas spill
WALLAGRASS, Maine — Although weather conditions have slightly hampered the cleanup effort, representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection are pleased with the progress made in the nearly four months since a major gasoline spill. The DEP hosted a second public hearing on Thursday evening to update residents on ...
DEP to speak to Wallagrass residents about gas spill
WALLAGRASS, Maine — Nearly four months after 5,000 gallons of gasoline spilled along a community roadway, the state Department of Environmental Protection continues its cleanup effort. A public hearing to let area residents know how that effort is going has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Wallagrass Elementary ...
Orono, Stillwater dam upgrades to fill energy gap left by removal of other dams
ORONO, Maine — Two dams have received approval to boost their energy capacity and fill the gap left when three other Penobscot River dams are demolished or decommissioned over the next two to three years. The Department of Environmental Protection cleared Black Bear Hydro Partners LLC, the company that owns ...
State offering free disposal of banned pesticides
The Maine Board of Pesticides Control and the Department of Environmental Protection are offering Maine homeowners an opportunity to safely dispose of banned or unusable pesticides free of charge this fall. Through Sept. 30, the board is accepting preregistration from individuals who want to dispose of old, potentially dangerous pesticides ...
DEP commissioner to visit cleanup sites in Washburn, Wallagrass
WASHBURN, Maine — Patricia Aho, acting commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, will be in Aroostook County for a two-day tour that will take her to several businesses and to two significant environmental cleanup sites. Samantha Depoy-Warren, spokesperson for the DEP, said on Tuesday that the tour will ...
Environmental group accuses LePage of stalling BPA ban
The state’s leading environmental health organization has charged the pro-business administration of Gov. Paul LePage with undermining key public health protections, including the pending ban against certain consumer products containing the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA. In a letter hand-delivered on Monday to the office of Attorney General William Schneider, ...
Trash and recycling top Greenville board’s agenda
GREENVILLE, Maine — A local businessman was awarded a contract Wednesday to build a transfer station in Greenville’s industrial park as the town moves to close the landfill this fall. Resident Mike Theriault submitted the lowest of three bids for the project at $474,750. The highest bid was $1,367,000. Residents ...
CONTRIBUTORS
Legislature lays groundwork for stronger economy
By Stacey Guerin on June 30, 2011, at 8:44 p.m.
Last November, voters made it clear that jobs and the economy topped their list of concerns. Looking for a fresh approach, they elected Republican majorities in the House and Senate and put a Republican in the governor’s office. The last time the Maine GOP had such extensive control, stamps cost ...
CONTRIBUTORS
Forest fires and wind turbines: The danger no one is talking about
By Clyde MacDonald on June 29, 2011, at 6:19 p.m.
Despite all that has been written about wind power, a vitally important issue has barely been mentioned. When turbines fail, blades may fall to the ground or send fragments that land up to a mile away. Turbines often catch fire, and when they do they often send flaming shards into ...
Wallagrass residents invited to DEP session
WALLAGRASS, Maine — As remediation crews and Department of Environmental Protection officials continue to clean up the aftermath of a gas spill in the community earlier this month, Wallagrass residents will get a chance on Wednesday night to meet with DEP staff to ask questions about the situation. Samantha Depoy-Warren, ...
Necropsy to be performed on Conn. mountain lion
The Associated Press on June 22, 2011, at 9:05 p.m.
BURLINGTON, Conn. — Wildlife experts are hoping that a necropsy on a mountain lion will help unravel the mystery of how the big cat ended up roaming the suburbs of Connecticut. Experts from the state Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are set to perform ...
Gasoline spill cleanup continues in Wallagrass with no sign of water contamination
WALLAGRASS — Nearly three weeks after a tractor-trailer accident caused 5,000 gallons of gasoline to spill out onto the ground, officials with the state Department of Environmental Protection and additional crews continue to oversee the cleanup effort. Samantha Depoy-Warren, spokesperson for the DEP, said there are no confirmed reports of ...
GUEST COLUMN
Conservation and the GOP: another view
By Ken Lamond on June 10, 2011, at 9:24 p.m.
Many residents, landowners and businesses want reform of the Land Use Regulation Commission structure. LURC is the selectmen, planning board, board of appeals and code enforcement all-in-one for its 10 million acre jurisdiction. The commission is appointed, not elected. The LURC staff in Augusta, which is not elected or appointed, ...
LePage signs Kennebec River dredging bill
The Associated Press on June 06, 2011, at 3:35 p.m.
BATH, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage has signed a bill that paves the way for the Army Corps of Engineers to perform dredging to ensure the safe passage of a warship built at Bath Iron Works. The Army Corps of Engineers applied for an environmental permit to dredge two areas ...
CONTRIBUTORS
Repeal of DEP conflict of interest rules will end in tears
By Neil Ward and Steve Hinchman on May 23, 2011, at 10:30 p.m.
After losing his Department of Environmental Protection commissioner to conflict of interest rules, Gov. Paul LePage’ s solution is not to pick a new candidate who is qualified. Instead, he wants to lower the standards. The Legislature should refuse. High government officials with a private conflict of interest simply have no ...
LePage cabinet member resigns amid allegations of racist remarks
By Kevin Miller, BDN staff on April 27, 2011, at 12:21 p.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage announced a major shake-up of his administration on Wednesday, including the resignation of his top economic adviser amid allegations of improper comments during a tour of Aroostook County earlier this month. Barely four months into his term, LePage is faced with filling two additional ...
Maine AG says DEP commissioner appears ‘unqualified’ to serve
Maine’s top lawyer has told the LePage administration’s top environmental official that unless he can produce documents proving otherwise, he appears unqualified to serve as commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection due to a conflict of interest. In a letter sent Tuesday to DEP Commissioner Darryl Brown, Attorney General ...
CONTRIBUTORS
Accountability depends on separation of powers
Despite their constitutionally mandated independence from the governor, the attorney general, the treasurer and the secretary of state are acting like members of the LePage administration. We have a system of checks and balances to ensure that no branch of government exceeds its constitutional powers. When the separation is ignored, ...
LePage vetoes Medicaid expansion, says ‘Maine can do better’
Report: University of Maine System teacher-training programs rank among worst in nation
In support of Bangor library, schools budget
We don’t understand female politicians
Maine Sports Hall of Fame revokes Dana Wilson’s 2012 induction
Pellerin enthusiastic about job as new Lawrence High School boys varsity basketball coach
Rask gives Bruins 2-1 series lead
Retiring Hermon High School athletic administrator Soucy maintains love of sports
25 things to do this summer — boats, barbecue, the Bard and everything else
UMPI solar system model expanding into Canada
Saying goodbye to our Pakistani daughter