Ensuring our current environmental protections are maintained - BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE WEAKENED MAINE’S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS WERE DEFEATED. Legislators maintained the integrity of our fundamental environmental protections by rejecting numerous bills throughout the session that would have weakened laws protecting Maine’s air, land and water.
Status: PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BALDACCI
Every few years, Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reviews its classifications to determine the legal level of protection for waterways under the Clean Water Act. LD 330 codifies the DEP’s recommendations to increase clean water protections for a number of outstanding waterways in Maine, including the Crooked River, Alder Stream, and the Basin. The passage of this law demonstrates Maine’s and Governor Baldacci’s progress to improve our water quality.
Status: $7.5 MILLION FOR LMF WILL GO BEFORE MAINE VOTERS FOR APPROVAL IN NOVEMBER 2010
On the last day of the legislative session, lawmakers approved a bond package that includes $7.5 million to fund the Land for Maine's Future program (LMF). LMF is a very popular and successful program that conserves Maine's working farms, forestlands and rich natural heritage. LMF received funding despite the small size of the package, other important competing needs and the current fiscal climate. Legislative leaders deserve credit for making sure that LMF received a portion of the package. At the same time, the estimated need for the program is $20 million a year and the ongoing lack of full funding to support one of Maine's most important economic assets is a cause of concern. We look ahead to addressing this challenge in the future with legislative and gubernatorial leadership.
Status: PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BALDACCI
This bill sets ambitious goals to weatherize 100% of Maine residences and half of Maine’s businesses by 2030. The bill consolidates the state’s multiple energy efficiency programs into the newly-created Efficiency Maine Trust. The energy efficiency and weatherization programs authorized under this legislation will help homeowners and businesses save millions of dollars on energy bills, reduce global warming pollution and employ Maine workers in our emerging clean energy economy. Maine will rely on federal stimulus money and a bond to fund the first two years of expanded efficiency programs, and the bill gives the new Trust eighteen months to develop and propose a sustained, dedicated funding mechanism to help achieve these goals over the long run.
Status: PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BALDACCI
LD 1333 was amended so that many of the original parts dealing with energy use and climate change were taken out. A key component to help advance fish and aquatic organism passage was maintained. Passage of the bill as amended helps the sustainability of our native aquatic species by requiring adequately sized culverts. In 2010, we look forward to advancing the original components of the bill that would guide new planning to ensure that new public and private development is as clean and energy-efficient as possible.
Status: PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BALDACCI
LD 1293 will help protect neighbors and small farmers from the dangers of pesticide spray by establishing a notification system. The bill requires land managers to notify occupants, farmers and owners of adjacent properties if they intend to apply outdoor pesticides using aerial spray or air-carrier application equipment. It also creates a registry for people who wish to receive detailed information about these pesticide applications.
Status: PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BALDACCI
This first-in-the-nation law provides consumers a free and easy way to recycle compact fluorescent light bulbs and will reduce mercury pollution in Maine’s environment. The bill sets a reasonable standard for how much mercury can be contained in light bulbs sold in Maine and requires bulb manufacturers to share in the cost and responsibility for safe collection and recycling.