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Environment Maine's Matthew Davis calls for funding for sewage system upgrades at a news conference on Willard Beach, which was closed due to bacterial contamination.
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A state bond measure of $7.1 million for important environmental programs will be on the ballot in November, thanks in part to the work of Environment Maine. Although this bond measure is disappoint-ingly small, it deserves approval of voters. The state bond measure does not include grants to towns for wastewater improvements, but includes $2.6 million in loans.
“This bond is better than no bond, but the need for investment in our wastewater facilities is much greater,” said Matthew Davis, advocate for Environment Maine. “We had problems all summer with bacterial contamination at beaches, but the Legislature failed to implement one solution: state assistance to improve the worst treatment plants in the state.”
Sewage treatment plants in need
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) identified 12 towns throughout Maine that needed state assistance this year for their sewage treatment infrastructure, including Calais, Ellsworth, Northport, Presque Isle and Windham. These treatment plants have been discharging raw or partially treated sewage into Maine’s coastal waters—threatening the health of swimmers as well as the livelihoods of fishermen.
The Legislature adjourned in June, having not approved a state bond package because legislative leaders could not agree on the size of a proposed bond package.
This summer, Environment Maine took to the streets. Our staff talked to over 10,000 Mainers, collected over 3,500 postcards to state representatives in support of $15 million in state grants for wastewater improvements, brought the issue to the media’s attention, and met with legislators to convince them of the importance of improving sewage plants.
Over the course of the summer, all those conversations and public comments paid off—leadership from both parties met to discuss the amount of the bonds. Despite this early success, the amount of wastewater improvement money in the bond package negotiated was disappointing: no grants to towns, and $2.6 million in state loans for larger towns and cities.
Improving plants would improve water quality
If the state had bonded $15 million for grants to towns’ sewage treatment plant improvements, those towns would also qualify for $22 million in federal assistance.
Towns like Calais would use grants to increase capacity so that partially-treated sewage will not be dumped during rainstorms. These improvements would help the nearly 100 clammers that are out of work because of bacterial contamination from the plant.
Waterways need further attention
Voters should support the environmental bond measure on the ballot in November, and urge legislators to approve a larger bond for wastewater upgrades next year.
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