2012 Session in Review
The 125th Legislature will be remembered as one of the toughest periods for Maine’s environment. It will be remembered for Governor Paul LePage’s sweeping attacks on the laws that protect our health, natural heritage and way of life. It will be remembered for remarkable bipartisan leadership on a “takings” bill that threatened to freeze passage of future environmental laws and a last-minute bill that weakens mining regulations. Finally, it will be remembered as the time when Maine people came together like never before to defend our waters, woods and wildlife.
As we look back on the session, there are many stories to tell. Some are hopeful, some discouraging, and some are a little of both. A bright spot of the session was the bipartisan support for a $5 million Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) bond, but in contrast, the passage of an open-pit mining bill presents a troubling look towards the future.
For more than two decades, LMF has conserved more than 532,000 acres that secure public access for recreation, conserve our most important habitats, preserve Maine’s farming traditions and protect the natural infrastructure vital to both our sense of place and our economic future.
A logger and hunter who has spent much of his time in Maine’s woods, former State Senator David Trahan of Waldoboro cares deeply about protecting wildlife habitat. He now heads the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM), and used his passion for deer yards and his experience as a former legislator to work with a diverse group of partners to garner broad support for LMF.
According to Beth Ahearn, MCV’s Political Director, “If it weren’t for David Trahan and the overwhelming bipartisan support he helped to build in the Legislature, we wouldn’t have a Land for Maine’s Future bond on November’s ballot this year.”
The story on mining was quite different. In the final weeks of the legislative session, Rep. John Martin of Eagle Lake introduced a bill intended to help J.D. Irving, Ltd. develop an open-pit copper mine on Bald Mountain in Aroostook County. This type of mining produces sulfuric acid which can leach arsenic, lead and mercury into the surrounding watershed.
Jeff Reardon of Trout Unlimited recalls, “The mining bill was dropped in at the last minute and was needlessly rushed through a process that did not allow for full public debate or robust scientific input. Water quality standards for open-pit mining operations have been weakened, and that could have a devastating effect on Maine’s fish, wildlife and recreation economy.”
We are grateful that the Environment and Natural Resources Committee vastly improved the mining bill from its original version, but the outcome still weakens groundwater standards statewide, not just on Bald Mountain. It also reduces the state’s protection against abandoned mining sites – potentially leaving Maine taxpayers with clean-up costs.
Each of the bills featured in MCV’s 26th annual Environmental Scorecard has a similar story. Aside from the success on LMF, this year’s Legislature made little progress for Maine’s clean waters, natural areas and wildlife, and the economies that depend on them.
As we look forward, we need to get back on track for Maine’s people, environment and long-term prosperity. To do that, we must elect more candidates to the Legislature who believe that a clean environment and a healthy economy go hand in hand.
MCV will continue to be your partner as we turn the next page – defending Maine’s environmental laws, holding our elected officials accountable for their actions, and electing more conservationists to public office. The online version of this year’s Scorecard offers many opportunities for you to take action, as well as more in-depth, insider stories from the session. You can find it at www.mainescorecard.org.
Enjoy the Scorecard, and as always, thanks for your support!
Maureen Drouin, Executive Director
Leslie Harroun, Board President
