State of Maine secondary Archives: on Environment

Angus King: Maine is clean & getting cleaner

Our environment-already one of the best in the world-is getting better.
• We have cleaner air: In the mid-80s, Maine averaged 9 days of unhealthy air a year. In 1999, we had 1.
• We have a cleaner marine environment:Over 100,000 acres of clam flats have been opened in the last 5 years and the value of the lobster catch is at an all-time high.
• We have cleaner workplaces: As a result of the Toxic Use Reduction Act, we have seen a 57% reduction in toxic materials released.
• We have cleaner rivers Dioxin levels in river fish have steadily declined as the nation’s most stringent dioxin standards have been implemented ahead of schedule.
• We’re improving our forests: The Forest Practices Act has been strengthened, and most of Maine’s large landowners-including the state itself-are voluntarily going through an outside audit of their forest practices.
• We are preserving our natural heritage: Last year, the state acquired Scarborough Beach and 29 miles of shorefront on Moosehead Lake.

Angus King: Promote Smart Growth via tax breaks

Zak Ringelstein: Believes in climate change and protecting our environment