[link removed] [[link removed]]Dear John,
With a short legislative session this year, every moment counts in Augusta. Over the last few weeks, we’ve relied heavily on outdoor meetings and phone calls to connect with Maine’s lawmakers about our priorities. Last week, however, I joined lawmakers and partners in Augusta to talk with them about Maine’s Environment Priorities Coalition’s [[link removed]] (EPC) 2022 Common Agenda and MCV’s other priority bills.
Here’s an update on the EPC’s seven priority bills and how you can help our 37-member coalition get these bills over the finish line:
LD 1626: Restoring the Wabanaki Tribes’ Inherent Sovereignty
[link removed] [[link removed]]The Wabanaki tribes’ inherent right to self-govern was revoked over 40 years ago. Sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross, LD 1626 [[link removed]] would right this wrong and restore the Wabanaki tribes’ inherent sovereignty – allowing the tribes in Maine to access federal opportunities to expand environmental protections, increase access to health care, respond to natural disasters, foster job creation and economic development, protect safe drinking water, and much more.
Tomorrow, February 15 at 9 AM, the Judiciary Committee will hold a Public Hearing for this critical bill. The Wabanaki Alliance has set a goal of gathering 500 testimonies in favor of this bill and more than 350 MCV members and supporters have already pledged to submit testimony before tomorrow morning. To those who pledged, thank you for your advocacy!
If you are interested in submitting testimony and have not yet had an opportunity, explore this helpful guide [[link removed]] that the Wabanaki Alliance has compiled for the public to advocate for LD 1626. You can watch the hearing LIVE tomorrow here [[link removed]] .
LD 1639: Stopping Out-of-State Waste from Filling Maine Landfills
Good news for closing the loophole that allows out-of-state waste into Maine! Sponsored by Senator Anne Carney, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted 11-2 in favor of LD 1639 [[link removed]] last week. This bill will close the loophole that allows other New England states to dump demolition debris and hazardous waste into the state-owned Juniper Ridge Landfill near Old Town.
For years, hundreds of thousands of tons of waste from primarily Massachusetts have been dumped in Juniper Ridge Landfill — increasing pollution, leading to landfill expansions, and threatening sites of cultural and spiritual significance to the Penobscot Nation. Residents in the area formed the community group Don't Waste Maine [[link removed]] to fight back.
You can read more about the favorable committee vote in this Portland Press Herald article here [[link removed]] .
[link removed] [[link removed]]LD 736: Expanding Maine’s Ecological Reserve System
[link removed] [[link removed]]Exciting news! On February 8, the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) Committee voted 13-0 on LD 736 [[link removed]] , sponsored by Rep. Nicole Grohoski, to expand ecological reserves, which were created to protect and monitor Maine's natural habitats. At a time when Maine is facing growing threats from development, pollution, and climate change, expanding ecological reserves makes sense – and ACF agreed, unanimously !
Maine’s Ecological Reserve System includes beloved Maine places such as the Bigelow Mountain Preserve and Cutler Coast. This legislation will help expand the system, which protects diverse habitat types as well as rare, threatened, and endangered species. You can read more about Maine’s Ecological Reserve System in our Development Director Stacie Haines’ recent blogpost [[link removed]] .
Join us in thanking members of the ACF Committee for their unanimous vote in favor of LD 736 by sending them a message here [[link removed]] .
We hope this bill will sail through the full legislature with such a strong committee vote!
LD 1964: Protecting Maine’s Clean Water
This year is the 50th anniversary of Senator Edmund Muskie’s Clean Water Act! This landmark federal natural resource legislation dramatically improved the quality of water and life in Maine and across the country. What better way to celebrate than to strengthen Maine’s own water quality standards. Our state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has reviewed state waters and recommended improved protections for several water bodies throughout Maine.
LD 1964 [[link removed]] would adopt the Maine DEP’s proposed upgrades to over 800 miles of rivers and streams – improving and protecting Maine’s clean water now and for future generations. The Mills Administration is sponsoring this important bill, which will likely have a Public Hearing on February 28.
Sign the pledge to submit written testimony in support of LD 1964 [[link removed]] !
[link removed] [[link removed]]LD 1902: Fund Opportunities for Climate Education in Schools
[link removed] [[link removed]]On the first of this month, the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee voted 8-4 in support of LD 1902 [[link removed]] – the bill to fund equitable access to climate change education in Maine. Sponsored by Rep. Lydia Blume, this legislation was developed in conjunction with many youth-led, climate action, social justice, environmental, and education advocacy groups across Maine.
Maine’s Climate Action Plan identified the need for climate education but teachers need support to make this happen – this bill is the support Maine teachers need.
You can read more about this legislation in our Outreach Manager Abbie Bradford’s recent blogpost [[link removed]] .
LD 489: The Pine Tree Amendment – Establishing Environmental Rights for all People in Maine
Our right to breathe clean air and drink clean water should be as fundamental as our right to vote. But while the word “property” is mentioned twenty-three times in Maine’s Constitution, there is no mention of the protection of our water, air, or environment.
Sponsored by Senator Chloe Maxmin, LD 489 [[link removed]] , commonly known as the “Pine Tree Amendment,” puts our environmental rights where they should be – in Maine’s Constitution. This bill was carried over from last year and is set for final “Enactment” votes in the Maine House of Representatives and Senate.
You can sign a sector letter here to support the Pine Tree Amendment [[link removed]] . Every legislator will receive a copy of the letter, signed by grandparents, youth, business owners, outdoors enthusiasts, and many more from all across the state.
[link removed] [[link removed]]LD 1979: Help Restore Maine’s Great Rivers
[link removed] [[link removed]]The health of Maine’s rivers and sea-run fish – including the endangered Atlantic salmon – are threatened by dams that block upstream and downstream migration. Atlantic salmon are on the edge of extinction in the United States and we must support science-based solutions for improving the health of Maine’s rivers and sea-run fish. These science-based solutions indicate that dam removal in particular has led to thriving fish populations, cleaner water, and economic benefits for waterfront communities.
LD 1979 [[link removed]] is a Defensive Priority for Maine’ EPC, which means that our coalition is lobbying against this legislation that puts the interests of corporations ahead of protecting Maine’s great rivers and fisheries. Lawmakers should reject this bill, which puts the profits of dam owners ahead of Maine people and our state’s rivers. This bill was printed last week and referred to the Environment and Natural Resources committee. A Public Hearing will be held in the coming weeks.
You can learn more about LD 1979 here [[link removed]] .
I’ll be sure to send you another update from Augusta in the coming weeks but until then, lookout for action alerts about these priority bills and other issues we’re working on, too.
As always, we can’t do this work without you – our members and supporters. Thanks to those of you who have signed petitions, attended our Lunch & Learns to stay informed, submitted testimony, contacted your legislators about these bills (and others!), shared our calls to action on social media, and supported our efforts.
Gratefully,
[link removed] [[link removed]]
Beth Ahearn | she/her
Director of Government Affairs
Maine Conservation Voters
[email protected] [[email protected]]
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