Maine

Maine to ban ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging

Published

1 year ago

August 14, 2023

Maine to ban ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging

Environmental regulators in Maine are taking steps to ban “forever chemicals” in food packaging, becoming one of a handful of states to make the move.

The “forever chemicals,” nicknamed for their extremely slow decomposition rate, are used as water and oil-repellent linings in food packaging such as pizza boxes and microwave popcorn bags, as well as nonstick cookware.

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Also known as PFAS, the chemicals show up in nearly half of U.S. drinking water from groundwater contamination and have been connected to a plethora of illnesses and conditions, including disruption of reproductive systems, low birth weights, kidney disease, and cancer.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection released draft rules for regulating nine types of PFAS chemicals in food packaging, such as picnic plates, fast food wrappers, and take-out containers. The regulations would only apply to manufacturers with over $1 billion in sales, in order to affect major players in the market and not bludgeon smaller companies, according to DEP commissioner Melanie Loyzim.

Maine passed a law in 2021 that lays out a plan to phase out all PFAS in products sold in the state by 2030.

“We’ve got it still coming into our waste stream and it’s coming from things like PFAS in food packaging and PFAS in products,” Loyzim said, according to Maine Public. “So if we want to try to get it out of our waste stream and not have it continue to go into our environment, we have to do source reduction. And this is going to be an important part of that strategy.”

Packaging manufacturers are expected to comment on Maine’s proposed rules, and some critics anticipate package shortages. However, science director at the Seattle-based Toxic-Free Future, Erika Schreder, told Maine Public she had not heard of any such shortages.

“What we have heard is that the major manufacturers of food packaging in the United States have all now moved away from PFAS,” she said.

Maine has been following Washington state’s lead in PFAS regulation, becoming the second state in the country to attempt to regulate the existence of chemicals in single-use food packaging in 2019.

Washington, meanwhile, conducted a review of safer, fiscally sensible alternatives for the linings before regulations would take effect. The Evergreen State started regulating some containers earlier this year.

Maine’s proposed regulations still need to be approved by the state’s Board of Environmental Protection and legislature.

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The Pine Tree State became the first state to require testing for the chemicals in sludge, which has shown high levels in farmland where sludge was used as fertilizer. Increased levels also appeared in nearby bodies of water, and Maine has required drinking water testing for PFAS since the end of 2022.

While Maine works on regulations, the federal government is also looking at regulations. Earlier this year, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan announced proposed federal regulations for the chemicals, and there is a proposal in the Senate, backed by a bipartisan group including Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Gary Peters (D-MI).

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Maine

Maine photographer offers discounts, free services to same-sex couples who want to get married before inauguration

Published

4 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

Maine photographer offers discounts, free services to same-sex couples who want to get married before inauguration

PORTLAND, Maine (WMTW) – Many people in the LGBTQ+ community are concerned about last week’s election results, as they fear marriage equality protections may change under the new Trump administration.

As a result, a growing number of professional photographers are coming together to offer discounted or free same-sex wedding ceremony coverage.

That list includes Cassandra Fontaine of Koa & Kai Photography, who is based in Maine.

“Personally, in my family, my sister is in the LGBTQ community. My mom is,” Fontaine said. “It was more out of love and just knowing that I know how afraid they are, and I want to support them in whatever way that they can.”

The discounts and free services are being offered to those who are considering moving their wedding timelines up to between now and January.

It is important to note the Trump administration has not announced any plans to challenge marriage equality.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Maine since 2012, which is three years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage across the country.

In its Obergefell v. Hodges decision, the Supreme Court ruled that all 50 states must allow and recognize same-sex marriages under the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment.

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Maine

11 Maine legislative races headed to recounts, including one tie

Published

11 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

11 Maine legislative races headed to recounts, including one tie

Eleven races in the Maine Legislature that were contested on Nov. 5 are headed to recounts, the Maine secretary of state’s office announced Wednesday.

Ballots will be recounted in nine House races and two Senate races. Recounts will start on Friday and continue through Nov. 25.

Preliminary counts included a dead-even tie in House District 141, and three races where the margin between the apparent winner and loser was fewer than 20 votes.

The results below are unofficial preliminary counts provided by the secretary of state’s office.

House District 44

William Pluecker – 2,731

Ray Thombs – 2,369

House District 52

Sally Cluchey – 2,748

David Guilmette – 2,732

House District 58

Sharon Frost – 3,158

Daniel Newman – 3,114

House District 75

Stephan Bunker – 2,318

Randall Gauvin – 2,308

House District 81

Peter Wood – 2,835

Joan Beal – 2,816

House District 96

Michel Lajoie – 2,550

Kerryl Clement – 2,514

House District 98

Kilton Webb – 2,995

Guy Lebida – 2,941

House District 141

Patricia Kidder – 2,476

Lucas Lanigan – 2,476

House District 142

Anne-Marie Mastraccio – 1,938

Amy Bell – 1,874

Senate District 8

Leo Kenney – 10,112

Michael Tipping – 10,229

Senate District 15

Richard Bradstreet – 10,820

Raegan LaRochelle – 10,621

Maine law does not have mandatory recounts, but when the apparent margin of victory is 1 percent or less in statewide or multi-county races, or 1.5 percent or less in legislative or single county races, a candidate can request a recount free of charge.

When the margin is larger, the candidate must pay a deposit. That money is refunded if the result is overturned by the recount.

Wednesday was the last day that a candidate could request a recount in a non-ranked-choice race, according to the secretary of state’s office.

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Maine

Transgender support groups in Maine see spike in contacts after election

Published

19 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Press Room

Transgender support groups in Maine see spike in contacts after election

Transgender support groups in Maine said they are seeing a spike in contacts similar to those reported by national LGBTQ+ groups since Donald Trump’s election last week.

Bre Danvers-Kidman with the Maine Trans Net said about 100 people came to the group’s post-election support event and that many others have reached out through various platforms in the week since.

Some have expressed fears about losing their gender affirming care, the potential roll back of Title IV protections and a rise in harmful rhetoric.

Danvers-Kidman said that though there is valid concern about federal funding for care being rolled back, Maine has its own protections in place.

“We have the good laws here, we have the infrastructure to fight those battles with. And so to the extent that those battles rear their heads, Maine is going to be a place where I feel like we can fight them and we can win,” Danvers-Kidman said.

They expressed confidence that the “good laws” in Maine would remain, even if policy changed at a federal level.

“If the state offers greater protection to citizens than the federal government, the state wins. And so those greater protections that Maine offers to trans people, those will hold. I expect those to hold,” Danvers-Kidman said.

The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth, reported a 700% increase in crisis contacts the day after the election.

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