Tag: DEP

WERU News Report 10/8/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

The site of the GAC Chemical plant on the shoreline in Searsport has been the location of chemical & fertilizer
companies dating back to the early 1900s. The beach is littered with relics of the industrial past, but little was
known about what toxic legacy was left behind — until local residents, tired of refusals from state and federal
agencies, took matters into their own hands. In recent days news broke that DEP may be stepping in — but can they be counted on to conduct a full assessment? We talk with Ron Huber, Executive Director of Friends of Penobscot Bay; Sheila Dassatt, Executive Director of Downeast Lobstermen’s Association; Nick Seeger, Friends of Penobscot Bay.

(Photos that accompany this story can be found on the WERU facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/werufm )

WERU News Report 8/27/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

We check in with Ron Huber, Executive Director of Friends of Penobscot Bay, for an update on that group’s efforts to determine what was left behind on the shoreline near GAC chemical in Searsport, by generations of industry there. We also talk with DEP spokesperson Jessamine Logan for a response to Huber’s allegations that a FOAA records request to the agency did not yield requested phone records.

WERU News Report 8/27/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

We check in with Ron Huber, Executive Director of Friends of Penobscot Bay, for an update on that group’s efforts to determine what was left behind on the shoreline near GAC chemical in Searsport, by generations of industry there. We also talk with DEP spokesperson Jessamine Logan for a response to Huber’s allegations that a FOAA records request to the agency did not yield requested phone records.

WERU News Report 5/7/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: What happens when you cross Governor LePage with the Koch Brothers? Child safety advocates say that question was answered yesterday as Maine’s Department of Environmental Protect (DEP) blocked plans to add formaldehyde to the priority list under the Kid-Safe Products Act. Mike Belliveau of “Prevent Harm” explains

Segment 2: The Maine-based Hurricane Island Outward Bound Program is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary this year. And while you’ve most likely heard of the program, you might be surprised to hear how it started. Executive Director, Eric Denny joined us to talk about the program, their history, and how they plan to celebrate this year

Segment 3: NOAA – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, announced this week that the Penobscot River is one of two sites in the North Atlantic region that they are designating as Habitat Focus Areas. We spoke with NOAA spokesperson Maggie Mooney-Seus to find out what that means

Segment 3:

WERU News Report 9/25/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Maine’s lakes are endangered by policies put in place by the LePage administration, according to a report released yesterday by the Natural Resources Council of Maine. We spoke with NRCM’s Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim–the author of “Troubled Waters: Damage to Maine’s Lake Protection Program Under the LePage Administration”, and Jessamine Logan, Spokesperson for Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection.

You can read the full report at www.nrcm.org

WERU News Report 1/4/12

Program Topic: DEP Commissioner Patricia Aho’s proposal –is it simply “renaming” the bureaus, or is it restructuring?

Key Discussion Points (list at least 3):
a) Aho, a former lobbyist for the American Chemistry Council, the American Petroleum Institute, Horizon Wind Energy, LLC, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association and Verso Paper, among others, was appointed to the Department of Environmental Protection post after Governor LePage’s original pick, Darryl Brown, resigned under controversy over conflicts of interest last year. Aho– who in the past received an award from the Kennebec County Chamber of Commerce for her advocacy on behalf of the business community– announced her plans to restructure DEP at a Chamber of Commerce event last month.

b) Audio recorded a few hours ago as Aho presented the plan to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of the State Legislature

c) Comments from Pete Didishieim, the Senior Director of Advocacy for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, an organization that has been watching this process carefully and has serious concerns

Guests by name and affiliation: see above

Call In Program: no

Political Broadcast: no

Host: Amy Browne

Engineer: Amy Browne