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Historical Maine environmental information, 1971-2016

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State environmental policy
U.S. environmental policy
Endangered species policy
State endangered species
Federal land policy
Environmental terms
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The historical environmental information below applies to prior years. For more current information regarding environmental policy in Maine, see this article.

Land ownership

See also: Federal land policy and Federal land ownership by state

The federal government owned between 635 million and 640 million acres of land in 2012 (about 28 percent) of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Around 52 percent of federally owned acres were in 12 Western states—including Alaska, 61 percent of which was federally owned. In contrast, the federal government owned 4 percent of land in the other 38 states. Federal land policy is designed to manage minerals, oil and gas resources, timber, wildlife and fish, and other natural resources found on federal land. Land management policies are highly debated for their economic, environmental and social impacts. Additionally, the size of the federal estate and the acquisition of more federal land are major issues.[1][2]

According to the Congressional Research Service, Maine spans 19.8 million acres. Of that total, 1.1 percent, or 209,735 acres, belonged to the federal government as of 2012. More than 19.6 million acres in Maine are not owned by the federal government, or 14.78 non-federal acres per capita. From 1990 to 2010, the federal government's land ownership in Maine increased by 33,249 acres.[1]

The table below shows federal land ownership in Maine compared to neighboring states. The U.S. National Park Service owned 66,898 acres in Maine compared to 32,946 acres in Massachusetts and 13,168 acres in New Hampshire. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages endangered species, owned 65,987 acres in Maine compared to 21,850 acres in Massachusetts and 25,989 in New Hampshire.

Federal land ownership in Maine and other states by agency
State
Agency Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire
Acres owned Percentage owned Acres owned Percentage owned Acres owned Percentage owned
U.S. Forest Service 53,709 25.61% 0 0.00% 735,519 94.56%
U.S. National Park Service 66,898 31.90% 32,946 40.33% 13,168 1.69%
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 65,987 31.46% 21,850 26.75% 25,989 3.34%
U.S. Bureau of Land Management 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
U.S. Department of Defense 23,141 11.03% 26,896 32.92% 3,131 0.40%
Total federal land 209,735 100% 81,692 100% 777,807 100.00%
Source: Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data"

Land usage

Recreation

Federal parks in Maine

Federal lands and Indian reservations in the state of Maine by government agency (click the image to enlarge).

Maine has three National Park Service units, one national recreation trail, 43 national historic landmarks, 14 national natural landmarks, one national forest, and three wilderness areas. There are 39 state parks in Maine managed by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.[3][4][5] A study by the U.S. National Park Service found that 2.2 million visitors attended Maine's national parks and monuments and generated $191.5 million in visitor spending in 2013.[6]

State recreation lands

The table below contains a list of all state parks in Maine.[7]

Economic activity on federal lands

Oil and gas activity

Private mining companies, including oil and natural gas companies, can apply for leases from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to explore and produce energy on federal land. The company seeking a lease must nominate the land for oil and gas exploration to the BLM, which evaluates and approves the lease. The BLM State Offices make leasing decisions based on its land use plans, which contain information on the land's resources and the potential environmental impact of oil or gas exploration. If federal lands are approved for leasing, the BLM requires an application from the company containing information on how the exploration, drilling and production will be conducted. Afterward, the BLM will produce an environmental analysis and a list of requirements before work on the land can begin. The agency also inspects the companies' drilling and producing on the leased lands.[8]

In 2013, there were 47,427 active leases covering 36.09 million acres of federal land nationwide. Of that total, no leases were in Maine. In 2013, out of 3,770 new drilling leases approved nationwide by the BLM for oil and gas exploration, no leases were in Maine.[9][10][11][12][13]

The table below shows how Maine compared to neighboring states in oil and gas permits on BLM-managed lands in 2013. There were no active leases in Maine or neighboring states.

Payment in lieu of taxes

See also: Payments in lieu of taxes

Since local governments cannot collect taxes on federally owned property, the U.S. Department of the Interior issues payments to local governments to replace lost property tax revenue from federal land. The payments, known as "Payments in Lieu of Taxes" (PILTs), are typically used for funding services such as fire departments, police protection, school construction and roads.[14]

Below is a table for PILTs made to Maine between 2011 and 2013. Maine received more PILTs in 2013 than Massachusetts but fewer than New Hampshire and Vermont.

Total PILTs for Maine and neighboring states
State FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 State's percentage of 2013 total
Maine $303,652 $316,048 $299,779 0.00057%
Massachusetts $101,403 $114,403 $111,203 0.03%
New Hampshire $1,750,215 $1,800,869 $1,767,252 0.44%
Vermont $911,147 $942,220 $944,378 0.24%
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, "PILT"


Legislation and regulation

Federal laws

Clean Air Act

The federal Clean Air Act requires each state to meet federal standards for air pollution. Under the act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversees national air quality standards aimed at limiting pollutants from chemical plants, steel mills, utilities, and industrial factories. Individual states can enact stricter air standards if they choose, though each state must adhere to the EPA's minimum pollution standards. States implement federal air standards through a state implementation plan (SIP), which must be approved by the EPA.[15]

Clean Water Act

The federal Clean Water Act is meant to address and maintain the physical, chemical, and biological status of the waters of the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates water pollution sources and provides financial assistance to states and municipalities for water quality programs.[16]

According to research done by The New York Times using annual averages from 2004 to 2007, Maine had 343.8 facilities that were regulated annually by the Clean Water Act. An average of 160.8 facilities violated the act annually from 2004 to 2007 in Maine, and the EPA enforced the act an average of 5.7 times a year in the state. This information, published by the Times in 2009, was the most recent information on the subject as of October 2014.[17]

The table below shows how Maine compared to neighboring states in The New York Times study, including the number of regulated facilities, facility violations, and the annual average of enforcement actions against regulated facilities between 2004 and 2007. Maine had the most regulated facilities compared to neighboring states. Maine had more facility violations than New Hampshire and Vermont but fewer than Massachusetts.

The New York Times Clean Water Act study (2004-2007)
State Number of facilities regulated Facility violations Annual average enforcement actions
Maine 343.8 160.8 5.7
Massachusetts 284.5 166.3 9.4
New Hampshire 101.30 54.80 5.00
Vermont 170.8 76.4 3.2
Source: The New York Times, "Clean Water Act Violations: The Enforcement Record"

Endangered Species Act

The federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 provides for the identification, listing, and protection of both threatened and endangered species and their habitats. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the law was designed to prevent the extinction of vulnerable plant and animal species through the development of recovery plans and the protection of critical habitats. ESA administration and enforcement are the responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.[18][19]

Federally listed species in Maine

There were 16 endangered and threatened animal and plant species believed to or known to occur in Maine as of July 2015.

The table below lists the 13 endangered and threatened animal species believed to or known to occur in the state. When an animal species has the word "Entire" after its name, that species will be found all throughout the state.[20]

Endangered animal species in Maine
Status Species
Threatened Bat, Northern long-eared (Myotis septentrionalis)
Threatened Knot, red (Calidris canutus rufa)
Threatened Lynx, Canada (Contiguous U.S. DPS) (Lynx canadensis)
Threatened Plover, piping except Great Lakes watershed (Charadrius melodus)
Endangered Salmon, Atlantic Gulf of Maine DPS (Salmo salar)
Threatened Sea turtle, green Except where endangered (Chelonia mydas)
Endangered Sea turtle, hawksbill Entire (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Endangered Sea turtle, leatherback Entire (Dermochelys coriacea)
Endangered Sturgeon, shortnose Entire (Acipenser brevirostrum)
Endangered Tern, roseate northeast U.S. nesting pop. (Sterna dougallii dougallii)
Endangered Whale, finback Entire (Balaenoptera physalus)
Endangered Whale, humpback Entire (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Endangered Whale, North Atlantic Right Entire (Eubalaena glacialis)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in Maine"

The table below lists the three endangered and threatened plant species believed to or known to occur in the state.[21]

Endangered plant species in Maine
Status Species
Endangered Lousewort, Furbish (Pedicularis furbishiae)
Threatened Orchid, eastern prairie fringed (Platanthera leucophaea)
Threatened Pogonia, small whorled (Isotria medeoloides)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in Maine"

State-listed species in Maine

The New England cottontail, which does not appear on the federal list, is a state-protected species in Maine.

Maine maintains its own state list of endangered and threatened species under the Maine Endangered Species Act (1975). Species that appear on both the federal and state list receive state and federal protection, while solely state-listed species receive protection from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The Maine state government does not list endangered or threatened plant species under the Maine Endangered Species Act or give plants any state protection, although it maintains a list of rare and endangered plants for information purposes. As of September 2009, the last time the state list was revised, Maine had 22 fish and wildlife species listed as endangered and 23 species listed as threatened, some of which were also federally listed. A complete list of the state-protected species in Maine can be found here.[22]

Enforcement

See also: Enforcement at the EPA

Maine is part of the EPA's New England Region, also known as Region 1, which includes Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The EPA enforces federal standards on air, water and hazardous chemicals. The EPA can engage in its own administrative action against private industries, or it can bring civil and/or criminal lawsuits against them. The goal of environmental law enforcement is usually the collection of penalties and fines for violations of laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. In 2013, the EPA estimated that 149 million pounds of pollution, which includes air pollution, water contaminants, and hazardous chemicals, were "reduced, treated or eliminated" and 16.36 million cubic yards of soil and water were cleaned in Region 9. Additionally, 95 enforcement cases were initiated, and 99 enforcement cases were concluded in fiscal year 2013. In fiscal year 2012, the EPA collected $252 million in criminal fines and civil penalties from the private sector nationwide. In fiscal year 2013, the EPA collected $1.1 billion in criminal fines and civil penalties from the private sector nationwide.[23][24][25][26]

Mercury and air toxics standards

See also: Mercury and air toxics standards
The EPA on mercury capture systems

The EPA enforces mercury and air toxics standards (MATS), which are national limits on mercury, chromium, nickel, arsenic and acidic gases from coal- and oil-fired power plants. Power plants are required to have certain technologies to limit these pollutants. In December 2011, the EPA issued greater restrictions on the amount of mercury and other toxic pollutants produced by power plants. As of 2014, approximately 580 power plants, including 1,400 oil- and coal-fired electric-generating units, fell under the federal rule. The EPA has claimed that power plants account for 50 percent of mercury emissions, 75 percent of acidic gases and around 20 to 60 percent of toxic metal emissions in the United States. All coal- and oil-fired power plants with a capacity of 25 megawatts or greater are subject to the standards. The EPA has claimed that the standards will "prevent up to 20 premature deaths in Maine while creating up to $170 million in health benefits in 2016."[27][28][29]

In 2014, the EPA released a study examining the economic, environmental, and health impacts of the MATS standards nationwide. Other organizations have released their own analyses about the effects of the MATS standards. Below is a summary of the studies on MATS and their effects as of November 2014.

EPA study
In 2014, the EPA argued that its MATS rule would prevent roughly 11,000 premature deaths and 130,000 asthma attacks nationwide. The agency also anticipated between $37 billion and $90 billion in "improved air quality benefits" annually. For the rule's cost, the EPA estimated that annual compliance fees for coal- and oil-fired power plants would reach $9.6 billion.[30]

NERA study
A 2012 study published by NERA Economic Consulting, a global consultancy group, reported that annual compliance costs in the electricity sector would total $10 billion in 2015 and nearly $100 billion cumulatively up through 2034. The same study found that the net impact of the MATS rule in 2015 would be the income equivalent of 180,000 fewer jobs. This net impact took into account the job gains associated with the building and refitting of power plants with new technology.[31]

Superfund sites

The EPA established the Superfund program as part of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980.The Superfund program focuses on uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites nationwide. The EPA inspects waste sites and establishes cleanup plans for them. The federal government can compel the private entities responsible for a waste site to clean the site or face penalties. If the federal government cleans a waste site, it can force the responsible party to reimburse the EPA or other federal agencies for the cleanup's cost. Superfund sites include oil refineries, smelting facilities, mines and other industrial areas. As of October 2014, there were 1,322 Superfund sites nationwide. A total of 116 Superfund sites reside in Region 1, with an average of 19 sites per state. There were 10 Superfund sites in Maine as of October 2014.[32][33][34]

Economic impact
EPA studies
The Environmental Protection Agency publishes studies to evaluate the impact and benefits of its policies. Other studies may dispute the agency's findings or state the costs of its policies.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent federal agency, the Superfund program received an average of almost $1.2 billion annually in appropriated funds between the years 1981 and 2009, adjusted for inflation. The GAO estimated that the trust fund of the Superfund program decreased from $5 billion in 1997 to $137 million in 2009. The Superfund program received an additional $600 million in federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the stimulus bill.[35]

In March 2011, the EPA claimed that the Superfund program produced economic benefits nationwide. Because Superfund sites are added and removed from a prioritized list on a regular basis, the total number of Superfund sites since the program's inception in 1980 is unknown. Based on a selective study of 373 Superfund sites cleaned up since the program's inception, the EPA estimated the following economic benefits as a result of the program:[36]

  • 2,240 private businesses,
  • $32.6 billion in annual sales from new businesses
  • 70,144 jobs
  • $4.9 billion in annual employment income.

Other studies were published detailing the costs associated with the Superfund program. According to the Property and Environment Research Center, a free market-oriented policy group based in Montana, the EPA spent over $35 billion on the Superfund program between 1980 and 2005.[37][38]

Environmental impact

In March 2011, the EPA claimed that the Superfund program resulted in healthier environments surrounding former waste sites. An agency study analyzed the program's health and ecological benefits and focused on former landfills, mining areas, and abandoned dumps that were cleaned up and renovated. As of January 2009, out of the approximately 500 former Superfund sites used for the study, roughly 10 percent became recreational or commercial sites. Other former Superfund sites in the study are now used as wetlands, meadows, streams, scenic trails, parks, and habitats for plants and animals.[39]

Carbon emissions

See also: Climate change, Greenhouse gas and Greenhouse gas emissions by state

In 2011, Maine ranked 44th nationwide in carbon emissions. Emissions peaked during the years 2002 to 2004 when 20 million metric tons of CO2 were released. Emissions have declined since 2004. The transportation sector was responsible for around half of the state's emissions in 2011 followed by the residential, industrial and commercial sectors.[40]

Carbon dioxide emissions in Maine (in million metric tons). Data was compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Carbon dioxide emissions in Maine by sector

Pollution from energy use

Pollution from energy use includes three common air pollutants: carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. These and other pollutants are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which are federal standards limiting pollutants that can harm human health in significant concentrations. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is also regulated by the EPA, but it is excluded here since it is not one of the pollutants originally regulated under the Clean Air Act for its harm to human health.

Industries and motor vehicles emit carbon monoxide directly when they use energy. Nitrogen dioxide forms from the emissions of automobiles, power plants and other sources. Ground level ozone (also known as tropospheric ozone) is not emitted but is the product of chemical reactions between nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic chemicals. The EPA tracks these and other pollutants from monitoring sites across the United States. The data below shows nationwide and regional trends for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone between 2000 and 2014. States with consistent climates and weather patterns were grouped together by the EPA to make up each region.[41][42]

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced from combustion processes, e.g., when gasoline reacts rapidly with oxygen and releases exhaust; the majority of national CO emissions come from mobile sources like automobiles. CO can reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and at very high levels can cause death. CO concentrations are measured in parts per million (ppm). Since 1994, federal law prohibits CO concentrations from exceeding 9 ppm during an eight-hour period more than once per year.[43][44]

The chart below compares the annual average concentration of carbon monoxide in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of the United States between 2000 and 2014. States with consistent climates and weather patterns are grouped together by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which collects these data, to make up each region. Each line represents the annual average of all the data collected from pollution monitoring sites in each region. In the Northeast, there were 32 monitoring sites throughout 11 states, compared to 22 monitoring sites throughout six states in the Southeast. In 2000, the average concentration of carbon monoxide was 2.7 ppm in the Northeast, compared to 3.91 ppm in the Southeast. In 2014, the average concentration of carbon monoxide was 1.2 ppm in the Northeast, a decrease of 61.1 percent from 2000, compared to 1.52 ppm in the Southeast, a decrease of 56.7 percent from 2000.[45]

NE SE regional comparison.png

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of a group of gasses known as nitrogen oxides (NOx). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) measures NO2 as a representative for the larger group of nitrogen oxides. NO2 forms from the emissions of cars, buses, trucks, power plants, and off-road equipment. It helps form ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution, and has been linked to respiratory problems. Since 1971, federal law prohibits NO2 concentrations from exceeding a daily one-hour average of 100 parts per billion (ppb) and an annual average of 53 parts per billion (ppb).[44][46][44]

The chart below compares the annual one-hour average concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of the United States between 2000 and 2014. In the Northeast, there were 32 monitoring sites throughout 11 states, compared to 14 monitoring sites throughout six states in the Southeast. In 2000, the one-hour daily average concentration of NO2 was 61.31 ppb in the Northeast, compared to 57 ppb in the Southeast. In 2014, the one-hour daily average concentration of NO2 was 43.98 ppb in the Northeast, a decrease of 28.2 percent since 2000, compared to 38.36 ppb in the Southeast, a decrease of 32.6 percent since 2000.[47]

NE SE regional comparison.png

Ground-level ozone

Ground-level ozone is created by chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sunlight. Major sources of NOx and VOCs include industrial facilities, electric utilities, automobiles, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents. Ground-level ozone can produce health problems for children, the elderly, and asthmatics. Since 2008, federal law has prohibited ozone concentrations from exceeding a daily eight-hour average of 75 parts per billion (ppb). Beginning in 2025, federal law will prohibit ground-level ozone concentrations from exceeding a daily eight-hour average of 70 ppb.[44][48]

The chart below compares the daily eight-hour average concentration of ground-level ozone in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of the United States between 2000 and 2014. In the chart below, ozone concentrations are measured in parts per million (ppm), which can be converted to parts per billion (ppb). In the Northeast, there were 133 monitoring sites throughout 11 states, compared to 153 monitoring sites throughout six states in the Southeast. In 2000, the daily eight-hour average concentration of ozone was 0.083 ppm, or 83 ppb in the Northeast, compared to 0.082 ppm, or 82 ppb in the Southeast. In 2014, the daily eight-hour average concentration of ozone was 0.066 ppm, or 66 ppb in the Northeast, a decrease of 19.5 percent since 2000, compared to 0.063 ppm, or 63 ppb in the Southeast, a decrease of 23.9 percent since 2000.[49]

NE SE regional comparison.png


State laws

Title 38 of the Maine Statutes contains the environmental laws and regulations, which can be found here.[50]

Enforcement

Maine DEP Logo.jpg

Maine's Department of Environmental Protection's major divisions include the following:

The Division of Air Quality issues air quality permits for industrial facilities and maintains the state's air quality.[51]
The Division of Water Quality operates water quality programs for natural water sources like rivers, streams, wetlands and coastal waters. Its programs cover hydro-power facilities, waste discharge into water systems, water quality standards, and stormwater discharges.[52][53]
The Division of Land Resources oversees land development activities and reviews all land development plans that are expected to have an environmental impact. Its programs regulate shoreland development, watershed development, mining, and the use of sediments to prevent land erosion.[54][55]
The Division of Spills and Site Cleanup oversees the cleanup of contaminated and polluted sites. The division operates programs for emergency spills, petroleum cleanup, municipal landfills, and groundwater oil cleanup.[56][57]
The Division of Waste Management operates programs for asbestos, hazardous wastes, municipal waste, and biomedical waste.[58][59]

Historical budget information

The table below shows state budget figures for Maine's environmental and natural resource departments compared to neighboring states.

Total state natural resource expenditures by state
State Departments/Divisions FY 2013 FY 2012 FY 2011
Maine Environmental Protection $67,966,743 $77,783,694 $77,404,302
Massachusetts Environmental Protection; Conservation and Recreation $129,314,000 $116,998,000 $119,109,000
New Hampshire Environmental Services $118,652,082 $198,217,387 $225,939,534
Vermont Natural Resources $89,303,696 $88,854,316 N/A
Sources: Maine State Legislature, Massachusetts Office for Administration and Finance, New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services, Vermont General Assembly

Major groups

Below is a list of environmental advocacy organizations in Maine. A complete list of environmental groups by state can be accessed on the website Eco-USA.[60]

  • Southern Maine Conservation Collaborative
  • Sierra Club - Maine Chapter
  • Natural Resources Council of Maine
  • Maine Environmental Education Association
  • Maine Environmental Policy Institute
  • Environment Maine
  • Maine Audubon Society
  • Maine League of Conservation Voters

Ballot measures

Voting on the Environment
Environment.jpg
Ballot Measures
By state
By year
Not on ballot


Below are a list of ballot measures relating to environmental issues in Maine.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Maine environmental policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Historical Maine environmental information, 1971-2016 - Google News

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data," accessed September 15, 2014
  2. ↑ U.S. Congressional Research Service, "Federal Lands and Natural Resources: Overview and Selected Issues for the 113th Congress," December 8, 2014
  3. ↑ America's State Parks, "Map of State Parks," accessed October 24, 2014
  4. ↑ Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, "Parks," accessed October 24, 2014
  5. ↑ National Park Service, "Maine Parks," accessed October 24, 2014
  6. ↑ U.S. National Park Service, "2013 National Park Visitor Spending Effects Report," accessed October 14, 2014
  7. ↑ Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, "State Parks, State Historic Sites and Public Reserved Lands," accessed October 24, 2014
  8. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Lease Sales in Utah," accessed October 20, 2014
  9. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Number of Acres Leased During the Fiscal Year," accessed October 20, 2014
  10. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Total Number of Leases in Effect," accessed October 20, 2014
  11. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Summary of Onshore Oil and Gas Statistics," accessed October 20, 2014
  12. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Number of Drilling Permits Approved by Fiscal Year on Federal Lands," accessed October 20, 2014
  13. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Total Number of Acres Under Lease As of the Last Day of the Fiscal Year," accessed October 22, 2014
  14. ↑ U.S. Department of the Interior, "PILT," accessed October 4, 2014
  15. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Understanding the Clean Air Act," accessed September 12, 2014
  16. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Clean Water Act (CWA) Overview," accessed September 19, 2014
  17. ↑ The New York Times, "Clean Water Act Violations: The Enforcement Record," September 13, 2009
  18. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Improving ESA Implementation," accessed May 15, 2015
  19. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "ESA Overview," accessed October 1, 2014
  20. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in Maine," accessed July 6, 2015
  21. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in Maine," accessed July 6, 2015
  22. ↑ Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, "State List of Endangered & Threatened Species," accessed July 27, 2015
  23. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Annual EPA Enforcement Results Highlight Focus on Major Environmental Violations," February 7, 2014
  24. ↑ Environmental Protection Agency, "Accomplishments by EPA Region (2013)," May 12, 2014
  25. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Enforcement Annual Results for Fiscal Year 2012," accessed October 1, 2014
  26. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "EPA Enforcement in 2012 Protects Communities From Harmful Pollution," December 17, 2012
  27. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Basic Information on Mercury and Air Toxics Standards," accessed January 5, 2015
  28. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Cleaner Power Plants," accessed January 5, 2015
  29. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in Maine," accessed September 9, 2014
  30. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Benefits and Costs of Cleaning Up Toxic Air Pollution from Power Plants," accessed October 9, 2014
  31. ↑ NERA Economic Consulting, "An Economic Impact Analysis of EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Rule," March 1, 2012
  32. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "New England Cleanup Sites," March 24, 2014
  33. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "What is Superfund?" accessed September 9, 2014
  34. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund Sites," accessed October 7, 2014
  35. ↑ U.S. Government Accountability Office, "EPA's Estimated Costs to Remediate Existing Sites Exceed Current Funding Levels, and More Sites Are Expected to Be Added to the National Priorities List," accessed October 7, 2014
  36. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Estimate of National Economic Impacts of Superfund Sites," accessed September 12, 2014
  37. ↑ Property and Environment Research Center, "Superfund Follies, Part II," accessed October 7, 2014
  38. ↑ Property and Environment Research Center, "Superfund: The Shortcut That Failed (1996)," accessed October 7, 2014
  39. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Beneficial Effects of the Superfund Program," accessed September 12, 2014
  40. ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "State Profiles and Energy Estimates," accessed October 13, 2014
  41. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Air Trends," accessed October 30, 2015
  42. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Basic Information - Ozone," accessed January 1, 2016
  43. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Carbon Monoxide," accessed October 26, 2015
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)," accessed October 26, 2015
  45. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Regional Trends in CO Levels," accessed October 23, 2015
  46. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Nitrogen dioxide," accessed October 26, 2015
  47. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Regional Trends in Nitrogen Dioxide Levels," accessed October 23, 2015
  48. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Ground Level Ozone," accessed October 26, 2015
  49. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Regional Trends in Ozone Levels ," accessed October 26, 2015
  50. ↑ Maine State Legislature, "Title 38: Waters and Navigation," accessed October 22, 2014
  51. ↑ Maine Department of Environmental Protection, "Air Quality," accessed October 23, 2014
  52. ↑ Maine Department of Environmental Protection, "Water Quality," accessed October 24, 2014
  53. ↑ Maine Department of Environmental Protection, "Water Programs," accessed October 23, 2014
  54. ↑ Maine Department of Environmental Protection, "Land Resource Regulation," accessed October 24, 2014
  55. ↑ Maine Department of Environmental Protection, "Land Programs," accessed October 24, 2014
  56. ↑ Maine Department of Environmental Protection, "Spills & Site Cleanup," accessed October 24, 2014
  57. ↑ Maine Department of Environmental Protection, "Spills & Site Cleanup Programs," accessed October 24, 2014
  58. ↑ Maine Department of Environmental Protection, "Waste Management Programs," accessed October 24, 2014
  59. ↑ Maine Department of Environmental Protection, "Waste Management," accessed October 24, 2014
  60. ↑ Eco-USA.net, "Maine Environmental Organizations," accessed October 24, 2014
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