Legislators endorse higher classification for Androscoggin
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine lawmakers have unanimously endorsed a proposal to upgrade a 14-mile stretch of the Androscoggin River to a higher environmental classification in an acknowledgment of cleanup efforts.
Beth Ahearn from Maine Conservation Voters called the votes in the House and Senate “a fitting tribute” to the landmark Clean Water Act pushed through 50 years ago by U.S. Sen. Edmund Muskie, a Maine Democrat who grew up in Rumford, the Sun Journal reported.
It is likely that Democratic Gov. Janet Mills will sign the measure into law.
The Maine Board of Environmental Protection already endorsed the move for a portion of the river’s status to upgrade from the lowest category, Class C, to Class B from Lisbon Falls to Merrymeeting Bay.
Environmentalists are convinced they can make the case for upgrading a longer section of the river but that won’t happen this year.
Not everyone was supportive of the change. Some mills and businesses upstream fear stricter environmental standards could make it difficult for them to operate under certain conditions.
Related News
From Archive
- TxDOT advances massive drainage tunnel beneath I-35 in Austin
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- U.S. water reuse boom to fuel $47 billion in infrastructure spending through 2035
- $2.3 billion approved to construct 236-mile Texas-to-Gulf gas pipeline
- Major water pipe break in Puerto Rico hits over 165,000 customers
- Pennsylvania American Water launches interactive map to identify, replace lead water service lines
- Trump's tariffs drive $33 million cost increase for Cincinnati sewer project
- Utah city launches historic $70 million tunnel project using box jacking under active rail line
- Tulsa residents warned after sewer lines damaged by boring work
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized
Comments