Environmental Priorities Coalition

The Maine Council of Churches is one of 26 Maine organizations in this Coalition, collectively representing over 100,000 members. 

• LD 891 which proposes including consideration of greenhouse gas emissions in DEP site laws for development.  The Natural Resources Committee developed this as a Resolve that directs the Department of Environmental Protection to review and develop building standards that minimize greenhouse gases and maximize energy efficiency.  It will go to the floor as soon as the language is finalized and is expected to pass.

• LD 1538 (formerly LR 2265) which addresses loopholes whereby the exemption from DEP regulation of forest roads is being used by developers.  This has been modified to meet the concerns of the Forest Products Council.  This bill was voted out of committee (Natural Resources) with a unanimous Ought to Pass.  It is expected to pass both legislative bodies easily.

• LD 1547 (formerly LR 2067) which requires notification of neighbors when pesticide spraying by air carrier or aircraft is going to take place.  This bill is intended to make the law regarding notification that was passed last session easier to implement.  There is an enormous amount of controversy around this bill.  The Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry committee changed it substantially and then voted on it 9-3-1.  The current majority version gets rid of direct pre-season notification completely, exempts forestry applications, and modifies the distance of neighbors to be notified from 1320 feet to 500 feet for apple growers, Christmas tree farmers, and, perhaps, golf courses.  The Environmental Priorities Coalition is questioning what its role on this bill should be, given the dilution of it.  One possibility is to try to defeat the current bill.  Another is to try to turn it into a resolve for further study.

• LD 1568 which extends Maine’s ban on the chemical deca-BDE to plastic pallets.  This bill will go to the floor as soon as the language is finalized and is expected to pass.

• LD 1631 which establishes producer-financed product recycling efforts.  This bill was voted out of committee (Natural Resources) with a unanimous Ought to Pass.
  

• LD 1662 which seeks to improve Maine’s air quality and reduce haze at Acadia Park by reducing sulfur in heating oil.  A compromise was reached with the pulp and paper industry that sets lower sulfur standards for industrial fuels for 2018.  It also sets ultra-low sulfur limits for heating oil for 2016.  It gives DEP rulemaking authority to give the mills alternative compliance options for reducing sulfur.   This bill was voted out of committee (Natural Resources) with a unanimous Ought to Pass.
  

• LD 1725, Resolve on DEP Rule-Making which requires new stream crossing culverts to be designed to permit passage of fish.  It appears there will be a floor fight on this bill, with Maine Municipal Association being one of the strongest opponents.

Legislative priorities in 2010

• Overview of all bills

• Build a Clean Energy Future for Maine - LD 891: An Act to Reduce Maine's Dependency on Fossil Fuels and Enhance Energy Efficient Development   Fact Sheet

• Protect Maine’s Water Quality and Wildlife Habitat - LD 1538: An Act to Close Loopholes in Environmental Regulations  Fact Sheet

• Conserve Maine Fisheries - RULEMAKING: An Act To Ensure that Replacement Culverts Permit Fish Passage Fact Sheet

• Protect Maine People and Wildlife - LD 1568: An Act to Clarify Maine’s Phase-out of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (DECA) Fact Sheet

• Streamline Maine's Pesticide Notification System - LD 1547:  An Act to Revise Notification Requirements for Pesiticides Applications Using Aircraft and Air Carrier Equipment Fact Sheet

• Reduce Air Pollution in Maine - LD 1662: An Act to Improve Maine’s Air Quality and Reduce Regional Haze at Acadia National Park and Other Class 1 Areas Fact Sheet

• Get Hazardous Materials out of Community Landfills - LD 1631: An Act to Provide Leadership Regarding the Responsible Recycling of Consumer Products Fact Sheet

2010 Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition

American Lung Association of Maine

Appalachian Mountain Club

Atlantic Salmon Federation

Bicycle Coalition of Maine

Conservation Law Foundation

Environmental Health Strategy Center

Environment Maine

Environment Northeast

Friends of Casco Bay

Maine Audubon

Maine Center for Economic Policy

Maine Congress of Lake Associations

Maine Council of Churches

Maine Council of Trout Unlimited

Maine Conservation Voters Education Fund

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association

Maine People’s Alliance

Maine Rivers

Natural Resources Council of Maine

Northern Forest Alliance

Physicians for Social Responsibility, Maine Chapter

RESTORE: The North Woods

Sierra Club, Maine Chapter

The Ocean Conservancy

The Wilderness Society

Toxics Action Center

For more information, contact Maureen Drouin, 620-8811, maureen@protectmaine.org or Beth Ahearn, 671-5071, bethahearn@suscom-maine.net

Maine Conservation Voters Education Fund