‘We will be dealing with the fallout of this for generations to come,’ says Ed Friedman, chairman of Friends of Merrymeeting Bay.
Penelope Overton
Staff Writer
Penny Overton is excited to be the Portland Press Herald’s first climate reporter. Since joining the paper in 2016, she has written about Maine’s lobster and cannabis industries, covered state politics and spent a fellowship year exploring the impact of climate change on the lobster fishery with the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team. Before moving to Maine, she has covered politics, environment, casino gambling and tribal issues in Florida, Connecticut, and Arizona. Her favorite assignments allow her to introduce readers to unusual people, cultures, or subjects. When off the clock, Penny is usually getting lost in a new book at a local coffeehouse, watching foreign crime shows or planning her family’s next adventure.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Toxic foam risks persist at other ‘deficient’ Brunswick airport hangars
Inspection reports from 14 months ago show unaddressed deficiencies in 2 sprinkler systems that still use aqueous film-forming foam that contains forever chemicals.
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Posted inHealth, Local & State, News, Politics
Maine congressional delegation presses Navy for help with Brunswick chemical spill
The Navy still owns the airport hangar where 51,000 gallons of toxic firefighting foam was discharged after an overhead fire suppression system with a deficient service record malfunctioned.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Former Maine CDC director Shah: State must prepare for health impacts of climate-driven flooding
Nirav Shah, now the deputy director of the U.S. CDC, praised Maine for addressing extreme heat and tick-borne illnesses. Those who survive floods report more stress, anxiety and depression, health groups say.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Times Record
Inspection revelations prompt calls for Brunswick Landing chief to step down
State and municipal leaders are calling for changes after learning that Executive Director Kristine Logan failed to disclose a 2023 inspection report showing deficiencies in the fire suppression system that malfunctioned Aug. 19, spewing 50,000 gallons of toxic foam.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Inspectors warned of ‘tremendous’ potential for accidental foam discharge at Brunswick airport
But repairs weren’t made to the site’s aging system, which went on to malfunction and discharge 51,000 gallons of toxic chemical foam in August.
Posted inElection 2024, Local & State, Outdoors, Politics
Outdoors groups push for passage of Maine’s first trail bond
The $30 million bond, which goes to voters in November, would pay for engineers, heavy equipment and laborers needed to build trails that will withstand climate change and make Maine a world-class outdoor recreation leader, advocates say.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Activists push for more aggressive action as Maine pitches climate strategy to public
Some environmental groups say the first draft of Maine’s next climate action plan doesn’t go far enough, especially when it comes to curbing transportation emissions.
Posted inLocal & State
Augusta tanning salon, Windham car wash face stiff fines from state
Maine is also considering consent agreements with a tanning salon chain for illegal storage and disposal of spent lamps, a garage for causing an oil spill that closed Willard Beach for 4 days in August 2021 and Franklin Memorial Hospital for improper storage of hazardous waste.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Scientists express concern about scale of foam spill, the latest in a long, dirty history at former base
The high concentration and range of toxic forever chemicals in last week’s spill raises health and environmental concerns, and is putting pressure on the state to expand testing and protect public health.