Maine

Maine workers make progress in cleanup of spilled firefighting foam at former Navy base

Published

3 months ago

August 26, 2024

Maine workers make progress in cleanup of spilled firefighting foam at former Navy base

BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) – Firefighting foam in a hangar at Brunswick Executive Airport has been been removed, and mitigation is underway on four retention ponds following Maine’s biggest accidental spill of the fire suppressant on record, officials said Monday.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised the public not to consume or to limit consumption of freshwater fish from four nearby bodies of water following the accidental discharge of firefighting foam containing harmful chemicals known as PFAS.

An investigation is underway into why a fire suppression system discharged Aug. 19 in Hangar 4, releasing 1,450 gallons (5,490 liters) of firefighting foam concentrate mixed with 50,000 gallons (190,000 liters) of water at the former Navy base. Federal records show the spill is the biggest accidental discharge in Maine since its recordkeeping began in the 1990s.

Aircraft that were doused are undergoing a final cleaning inside the hangar, and then the hangar will be cleaned for a final time, officials said Monday. Four vacuum trucks were deployed to remove foam from the retention ponds, officials said.

PFAS are associated with health problems including several types of cancer, and they are found in everything from food packaging to clothing, in addition to firefighting foam. Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency, for the first time, proposed limits on the so-called forever chemicals in drinking water.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is overseeing the remediation at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, now known as Brunswick Landing. The base, which officially closed in 2011, had automated fire suppression in large hangars that once housed P-3 Orion patrol aircraft and other planes.

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Maine

Maine Veterans Project hosts Thanksgiving distribution event

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Maine Veterans Project hosts Thanksgiving distribution event

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – One local organization is looking to improve the holidays for hundreds of veterans in the Greater Bangor area

The Maine Veterans Project hosted their Thanksgiving distribution event this morning from 8am until 12pm at their office in Bangor.

Any veteran in the Greater Bangor area was welcome to stop by and get some food for free to help feed them and their families this Thanksgiving.

Meals were also delivered to those who couldn’t make it to the event in person.

Over 200 large bags of non-perishable food were available as well as turkeys, milk, eggs, burgers, and bacon.

They also had some cold weather gear available to those who needed it including jackets, socks, and gloves.

Hermon elementary school students also made some heartwarming cards for the veterans who would be picking up food at the event.

Maine Veterans Project vice president Anthony Murano said their goal was just to help as many veterans as they could.

“As you can see we do have a lot of moving parts going on out here. Today is our Thanksgiving distribution event, and the goal of today is to feed as many veteran’s families as we possibly can for the Thanksgiving season. We do have a small food pantry that we do keep stocked throughout the year, so if we have any vets that are looking for a little food assistance, we can help in that aspect,” said Murano.

Maine Veterans Project partnered with several local businesses and organizations to help make this event possible including Evan’s Veterans Project and the Not Your Average Nurses Foundation.

And for more information on everything that the Maine Veterans Project does, you can visit maineveteransproject.org or check them out on Facebook.

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Maine

Maine Celtics fall to Capital City Go-Go on late 4-point play

Published

10 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Maine Celtics fall to Capital City Go-Go on late 4-point play

Erik Stevenson was fouled making a 3-pointer and completed the four-point play with 3.5 seconds left to lift the Capital City Go-Go to a 96-93 win over the Maine Celtics on Sunday at the Portland Expo.

Stevenson finished with 36 points for Capital City. Ruben Nembhard Jr. added 13 points. 14 rebounds and seven assists, while Michael Foster Jr. had 14 points.

Ron Harper Jr. had 21 points and six rebounds for the Celtics. JD Davison added 11 points and 10 assists, while Baylor Scheierman finished with 16 points and six rebounds. Drew Peterson scored 18 for Maine.

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