Protecting our Environment and Natural Resource Economy

A clean environment is the bedrock of our state heritage and the basis of many livelihoods in Maine. Clean air and clean water are essential for fishermen and farmers. Tourism is another Maine industry that depends on our beautiful natural environment.

For the past two years I have served as Senate Chair of both the Environment and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) and the Marine Resources Committee (MAR).  In the ENR Committee we have worked hard to deal with issues around the waste stream. To that end we have continued to protect our Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for packaging which has just begun, initiated a similar program for used batteries, and planned a food waste EPR program for 2030.  In addition, we have worked to control hazardous substances such as PFAS from further polluting our water and air and your wells. 

Maine faces daunting challenges from our changing climate.  We must strengthen our communities’ infrastructure, including our roads, bridges, powerlines and fishing wharves to withstand increasingly fierce, frequent storms.

The MAR Committee has attempted to protect working waterfront and has deferred to the fishing industry in building rules to prevent overfishing, particularly of our state’s most valuable fishery — lobster.  We have also worked to improve timelines for licensing in shellfish and seaweed aquaculture, our farmers of the sea.