Summer in Maine means BBQ’s, recreation, vacations and a busy field season for DEP. In the past few months, I have spent time conducting site visits across the State and have seen first-hand the good work that that our employees are doing on behalf of the agency and the State of Maine.

The Senior Management team in the Office of the Commissioner has been focused on a number of department proposed rule making changes as well as looking ahead and planning for the next legislative session. One issue that we have focused our attention on is a proposed Water Quality Bond which, if approved by the legislature, will appear on the June, 2017 ballot.

This is the first water bond proposed by the Department since 2009. The bond requests a total of $50,000,000 that will fund three wastewater infrastructure/water quality programs at the Department of Environmental Protection that upgrade municipal/quasi-municipal wastewater infrastructure (treatment plants, pump stations, sewer systems), remove overboard discharges and repair/replace malfunctioning septic systems that impact surface water. The proposed bond has the potential to create jobs, improve water quality, and protect and/or open shellfish areas and well as leverage other federal and State funds to facilitate important wastewater infrastructure projects.

Wastewater infrastructure is typically the highest value asset a community owns and in some circumstances cannot be affordably sustained solely through local rate payers. Maintenance and upgrading of this “invisible”, yet essential, infrastructure is critical to protect public health, to protect water quality, and support economic development.

I encourage you to visit DEP’s website for more information on rule making and opportunities for public comment at http://www.maine.gov/dep/rules.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Paul

We are pleased to welcome back to Maine DEP, Melanie Loyzim who was recently appointed as the agency’s Deputy Commissioner. Melanie started at DEP in 2006 as an Environmental Specialist II in the Underground Storage Tanks Unit eventually transferring to the Air Bureau as manager of Air Toxics and Emission Inventory Unit before becoming Bureau Director in 2011.  In 2012, she transferred to Remediation and Waste Management to serve as the division’s Bureau Director.  Melanie left DEP briefly to work as Communications Director for a small business before returning to the Department in her current position.

“At DEP, we are charged with an amazing mission to help keep Maine beautiful, to protect our environment and public health,” said Loyzim. “We must be partners in that effort with our citizens and businesses and work together as an agency, to share and promote great ideas that benefit us all. I look forward to using my environmental experience to work with DEP staff and Maine people.”

Jeff Crawford has represented the Maine Department of Environmental Protection on the State Performance Partnership Improvement Team for several years. Throughout 2015, the team worked together to made EPA’s concept of E-Enterprise a reality. The work of the team, consisting of representatives from six states, showed that waste can be eliminated, processes streamlined and budget shortfalls tackled through partnerships and on-line cooperation. On May 10, 2016, Jeff received an award from EPA for his outstanding participation on the State Performance Partnership Improvement Team.

When a meth lab is discovered, Maine DEP works alongside the Maine DEA to protect public safety, the environment, and to assure proper disposal of the nasty chemicals involved.  The Maine DEA deals with the people involved and collecting the evidence they need.  The Maine DEP assists with identifying, sorting, and properly packaging the chemicals found onsite, as well as transporting them to a disposal facility.  

The chemicals used to make meth have many hazards: some are highly flammable, some can burn your skin, and others react violently if they come in contact with water. One of the chemical reactions creates hydrogen gas which is highly flammable, and that reaction can still be active!  Maine DEP Responders carry instruments that can measure these different hazards on site and have had extensive training in how to handle chemicals and chemical spills.  The Responders also have a kit that has all the different containers, packing materials, labels, and paperwork that are required to safely transport these chemicals.  As the number of meth labs found in Maine continues to climb, the Maine DEP and Maine DEA have formed an ongoing partnership to protect the citizens and environment of Maine.

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