Household Hazardous waste disposal bill signed into
law
AUGUSTA, MAINE -The lack of safe disposal sites in
most communities for household hazardous waste and
the desire of Mainers to be good stewards of the environment
prompted LD 1806, "An Act to Provide for the
Safe Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste."
The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Sue Austin (R-Gray)
aims at having municipal officials work together to
coordinate the household hazardous waste collection
programs with overall recycling and waste management,
encourage regional economies of scale, coordinate
programs between private and public institutions,
and maximize opportunities for federal grants and
pilot programs.
Currently, citizens have limited opportunities in
which they can properly dispose of old paint, furniture
stripper, rodent and insect pesticides, and other
toxic household items. Municipalities schedule annual
"drop off days" where cities and towns collect
the waste and LD 1806 will help to provide individuals
additional opportunities to dispose of their waste.
Municipalities will be granted the ability to impose
adequate disposal fees in order to cover the program
costs.
Rep. Susan Austin serves in 121st Maine Legislature
representing the people of Gray and part of New Gloucester.
She is a lead Republican on the Business, Research
and Economic Development Committee.
Farmland Preservation Forum to Be Held
Farmland is rapidly disappearing in southern Maine,
being replaced by development and other non-agricultural
uses. In order to help preserve what remains of a
still viable agriculture base in southern Maine, the
Scarborough, Buxton, and Saco Valley Land Trusts are
hosting a Farmland Preservation Forum on Monday, May
3, 2004 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the Buxton Town
Hall.
With assistance from the United States Department
of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
and the Threshold To Maine Resource Conservation and
Development (RC&D) Area, the Land Trusts hope
that participants will gain a better understanding
of the economic value agriculture still has in our
communities and learn tools to help protect that land.
The purpose of the forum is to present tools for local
landowners, land trust members, and town officials
for dealing with the economic viability and protection
of agriculture land in the region. A panel of experts
from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Coastal
Enterprises, Inc. along with a local Attorney and
landowner will present tools and techniques for farmland
protection and lead a discussion on local solutions.
If you are interested in protecting farmland in southern
Maine, plan on attending this session on May 3, 2004.
Senate Enacts Bill Prohibiting False Business Advertising
AUGUSTA-The Senate Wednesday enacted a bill that will
prohibit a business from intentionally misleading
consumers through telephone directories regarding
where their business is located.
Senator Stephen S. Stanley, D-Penobscot County, sponsored
the bill, LD 1711, after hearing from local florists
in his district who said companies were advertising
in area phone directories by name as being a local
florist. The companies in question purposefully left
out their physical address.
Collins Asks Environment Committee To Authorize $20 Million For Camp Ellis
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Susan Collins is working
to increase funding for the beach restoration effort
at Camp Ellis Beach in Saco. She wrote a letter to
the leaders of the Environment and Public Works Committee,
requesting that they authorize a minimum of $20 million
- in addition to the funds already appropriated -
in order to ensure that the Army Corps of Engineers
will have the funds necessary to fully protect the
residents and beachfront at Camp Ellis.
Over 100 years ago, the Army Corps built a jetty extending
out from the Saco River, adjacent to Camp Ellis Beach.
As has long been known by the residents of Camp Ellis
and was recently confirmed by an Army Corps study,
this jetty has altered the pattern of currents and
sand deposition and is the primary cause of the devastating
erosion of Camp Ellis.
The results of recent wave -modeling studies undertaken
at the direction of the Army Corps of Engineers indicate
that at least two structures are likely to be needed
to protect Camp Ellis from further erosion and destruction
of property. Although the final results of the studies
are not yet available, preliminary data indicate that
it will be necessary to build, at a minimum, both
an offshore breakwater and a spur coming off the jetty.
The total cost of these projects is likely to approach
$20 million. Sen. Collins requested a full funing
of a minimum of $20 million, in addition to the funds
which have already been appropriated, in order to
ensure that the Army Corps of Engineers will have
the funds necessary to act upon the best available
science and fully protect the residents of Camp Ellis.
Volunteers Needed for Presumpscot River Watch 2004
Sampling Season
Portland, Maine-Presumpscot River Watch, a non-profit
water quality monitoring organization, is gearing
up to launch its 15th sampling season beginning in
May. Presumpscot River Watch (PRW) is dedicated to
preserving and improving the health of the Presumpscot
River and its watershed through scientific water quality
monitoring, data sharing, and stewardship.
Volunteers are critical for this season to be successful.
Volunteers are needed to collect water samples along
the river and its tributaries, and to analyze the
samples for dissolved oxygen and E. coli bacteria
in the lab. No experience is necessary and training
is provided. Volunteering with PRW is a great opportunity
to gain valuable skills, meet new people in the community
and learn about our watershed.
On May 8th and 9th PRW will be hosting training sessions
for new and returning volunteers. Please contact MaryLee
Haughwout at (207) 773-4069 or by e-mail at mhaughwout@hotmail.com
if you are interesting in volunteering. To find out
more about PRW visit http://www.prw-maine.org
Windham Tax Reduction Event
The Windham Tax Reduction Event will be held on Sunday,
18 April 2004 from 1 - 3 PM at the Windham Veterans'
Center located behind the Hannaford's Shopping Plaza
located in North Windham on Route 302.The principal
speaker will be Betsy Chapman from the Maine Public
Policy Institute located in Bangor. This will be an
excellent opportunity to learn more about taxes in
Maine.
Mr. Jack Wibby, Yarmouth Taxpayers Association, will
address the Maine Taxpayers Action Network intiative
for a 1% property tax cap.
Others speakers will include Tommy Gleason and Lane
Hiltunen of Windham.
FMI: Lane Hiltunen 893-1589 Tommy Gleason 892-1882
Did you know…that April is Straw Hat Month?
New
Gloucester Selectmen Steve Libby at 2003 New Gloucester
Community Day, straw hat and all.
