Maine people treasure our environment, the abundance of lakes and streams, rich marine waters and agrarian landscapes. But given these vast resources, are we good stewards? The first twenty years of environmental protection in Maine focused on the regulation of pollution discharges and their impact on natural resources. Regulations were developed to address major visible environmental problems -- problems usually attributable to one or more large sources. In 1994, our problems are more complex and less obvious than they first appeared. The environmental issues we face are not solely the result of one major source. All of us contribute. We have found that the cumulative impact of many smaller scale activities may be as great as or greater than a few major industries.
The U.S. Congress and the Maine Legislature have enacted a framework of environmental
laws to protect and restore our natural resources and reduce the discharge of pollutants
to the land, air, and waters. At the same time, State Government has developed
programs to manage Maine's natural resources as our understanding of our complex
environment has grown. We have changed our personal habits as we learn more about
how our actions affect the environment. Today we recognize that both environmental
protection and economic development goals can be fulfilled through sustainable
development and careful use of our resources.
The interconnectedness of our actions underlies the graphs and text in this publication. Cur activities at work -and at home influence our lives and our neighbors' lives. As you read A Place in Time: Maine’s Environment - 1994, we invite you to meet-the challenges of the future and take action-in your home, at work and in your community-to be a good steward of Maine's treasured and irreplaceable natural resources.
Maine Environmental Priorities Project
Begun in 1993, the Maine Environmental Priorities Project is an effort to evaluate
environmental issues and impacts in a comprehensive way, leading to improved
decision-making and the development of more innovative solutions. The goal is
to shape an environmental protection program that truly reflects solid science
and societal concerns. Maine's project is distinctive because it is a
collaborative effort between state government, environmental organizations,
business and academic institutions. The effort is funded in part by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and private organizations. The ranking of
environmental priorities is expected by early 1995, with the development of
an implementation strategy to follow.
-- Teddy Roosevelt |
Stewardship of Maine’s Natural Resources Lies in the
Following Agencies:
The Department of Environmental Protection: DEP administers state programs
for water and air quality, waste management, major land developments, and the
protection of significant natural resources. In addition, DEP monitors and
assesses overall air and water quality. DEP responds to environmentally-threatening
oil and chemical spills. The agency has a forward-thinking focus -and actively
promotes pollution prevention through technical assistance and information transfer.
The Department of Conservation: DOC manages over 482,000 acres of public
lands, regulates forest practices, assesses Maine's forest resources, is
responsible for forest fire control over large expanses of the Maine woods,
manages state parks and historic sites, provides stewardship of publicly-owned
submerged lands, plans and regulates land use in the unorganized territories,
and documents the geology of Maine.
The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: IF&W is the steward
of Maine's wildlife resources as well as our non-marine fisheries. IF&W has
an active endangered species program. Major development proposals are reviewed
by lF&W for their impact on wildlife resources.
The Department of Marine Resources: DMR works to conserve and manage
the State's marine and estuarine resources. DMR regulates marine fisheries out
to the three mile limit and manages the lobster, shell- fish and sea urchin fisheries.
Natural Areas Program: The Natural Areas Program within the Department of
Economic and Community Development identifies rare and endangered plants,
plant communities and habitats.