Tag: pollution

Coastal Conversations 7/28/17

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Maine Beaches Conference

The show covers speakers at the recent Maine Beaches Conference, held July 14, 2017 in Wells, Maine
-Maine coastal and beach pollution issues
-Coastal erosion and loss of cultural resources
-Volunteer monitoring programs for beach erosion and pollution
-Coastal access legal issues

Guests:

Chris Feurt of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
Paul Dest, the director of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
Pete Slovinsky of the Maine Geological Survey
Alice Kelley from the University of Maine
Keri Kaczor of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant
John Duff of the University of Massachusetts Boston

RadioActive 3/26/15

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Orono Council Committee Votes to Withdraw from Penobscot Nation v Mills

Key Discussion Points:

a) On March 16th, the Orono Town Council’s Community Development Committee, which contains all members of the council, voted unanimously to instruct the town manager to draw up an order to formally withdraw Orono from Penobscot Nation v Mills. This case concerns the
Penobscot Nation’s jurisdiction to monitor their sustenance fishing waters, a status without issue until August 8th, 2012, when then Attorney General Schneider wrote a letter to the Penobscot Nation declaring that “the State of Maine has exclusive regulatory jurisdiction over activities taking place on the River.” The Penobscot Nation is now suing the state in Federal Curt

b) The state of Maine’s attorney, Matt Manahan from law firm Pierce Atwood, joined a consortium of 18 towns and corporations to the case, as intervenors for the state. These 18 are waste water dischargers on the river, though the case is not about pollution discharges, and many of these entities would not be effected if it were.

c) A movement opposing Orono’s involvement developed when town residents were surprised to discover Orono’s involvement. Inquires showed none of Orono’s town councilors knew of the town’s involvement either.

Today we listen to both councilors and the public at the Orono Town Council’s public meeting on March 16th.

We also hear reactions from Orono organizer and resident Cheryl Robertson.

*Note: On April 1st Orono formerly files to withdraw from Penobscot Nation v Mills.

Guests:

A) Orono Town Council members (Mark Haggerty,Geoffrey Gordon, Tom Perry, Tom Sptiz, Sam Kunz) and Orono Town Manager Sophie Wilson

B) public testimony : Claudia Lawd, Eric Maynard,Maria Girouard, Kathy Pollard, Nancy Prisk, John Banks

C) Rep. Ryan Tipping-Spitz

D)Cheryl Roberston, Orono resident

RadioActive 3/12/15

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Penobscot Nation v Mills, with Chief Francis and Local Organizing to Withdraw Orono from the Case

Key Discussion Points:

a) Despite years of cooperation and co-management with the state, and explicit direction from past administrations that the Penobscot Nation does have jurisdiction when it comes to monitoring their sustenance fishing waters, in 2012, the state began action to disassociate the water flowing through the Penobscot Nation from tribal control. On August 8th, 2012, the Attorney General William Schneider wrote a letter to the Penobscot Nation declaring that “the State of Maine has exclusive regulatory jurisdiction over activities taking place on the River.”
b) In response, the Penobscot Nation is suing the Attorney General’s Office (now occupied by Janet Mills) in federal court, in Penobscot Nation v Mills, et al. The attorney representing the state, Matt Manahan from law firm Pierce Atwood, has gone on the public relations offensive, and has additionally signed 18 towns and corporations to the case as intervenors for the state.
c) These 18 are waste water dischargers on the river, though the case is not about pollution discharges, and many of these entities are down stream from the Penobscot Nation. One of these towns is Orono. We hear from Orono resident Cheryl Robertson about efforts there to withdraw the town from the lawsuit.

The Orono Town Council will hold a public meeting on the issue at 5:30pm on Monday, March 16th.

Guests:
Chief Kirk Francis, Penobscot Nation, http://penobscotnation.org
Cheryl Roberston, Orono resident

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 7/16/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Today we’re talking with Ron Huber, Executive Director of Friends of Penobscot Bay, about that group’s efforts to enlist the assistance of state and federal environmental protection agencies to help access the impact of decades of chemicals and fertilizer companies on the shoreline at Kidder Point in Searsport.

FMI: http://www.penbay.net/ and http://penobscotbay.blogspot.com/

WERU Community SoapBox 4/19/12

Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: Joel Mann

Key Discussion Points:
Fascism, corporate personhood, Maine mining legislation, HOPE Festival, campaign fundraisers, money in politics, 2 party system, 9/11 truth, spirituality of water, diversity of callers, Earth Day, pollution, Juniper Ridge landfill

Guests by name and affiliation: n/a

Call In Program: yes

Weekend Voices 1/30/10

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

The company responsible for cleaning up hundreds of thousands of tons of soil contaminated by mercury at the former Holtrachem chemical plant in Orrington, is asking the state to approve a cheaper, less thorough, and quicker, clean up plan for the site.   Mallinckrodt Incorporated, a subsidiary of a multibillion dollar corporation, would save an estimated $100 million, and leave behind a large quantity of mercury in the soil, if their plan to remove only the most contaminated section is approved.   Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, and the former Holtrachem site is on the banks of the Penobscot River, just a few miles upstream from Penobscot Bay.

The Board of Environmental Protection held a public hearing in Orrington, Thursday night to hear what people think about the proposal.  WERU was there, and today we bring you excerpts from the testimony.
FMI: www.mainepeoplesalliance.org