New Mining Law Rolls Back Drinking Water Protections

Environment Maine

Portland, Maine—Environment Maine strongly criticized the mining bill, LD 1853, signed into law today by Gov. Paul LePage.  The bill weakens (1) groundwater standards for mining operations; (2) clean up requirements for mining operations; and (3) standards intended to hold mining companies, not taxpayers, accountable for cleanup costs.  Environment Maine Director Emily Figdor released the following statement in response:

“Large open-pit mines should have no place in Maine.  They ravage the environment and contaminate drinking water, and taxpayers are often left footing the bill for decades of clean up.  We’re extremely disappointed that Gov. LePage has signed this rollback into law.” 

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Environment Maine is a citizen-based environmental advocacy organization working to preserve Maine’s open spaces, protect clean air and water, and steer the state toward a clean energy future. For more information, please visit www.environmentmaine.org