Maine ranks well in chemical emissions study

WASHINGTON – While Maine’s two senators continue to fight to stop coal-fired power plants in the Midwest from blowing dirty air into the state, a federal study of chemicals discharged into the environment from the state’s own manufacturing plants is pretty clean.

In an annual federal study of chemical emissions from manufacturing facilities, Maine had one of the lowest levels of toxic pollutants in the air and water in 1999, according to the most recent figures released by the Environmental Protection Agency this week. Maine had the 10th-lowest level of toxic chemicals from manufacturers among the states and U.S. territories.

The EPA requires almost all types of manufacturers to report the quantity of toxic chemicals released into the air, water and land. The agency studies approximately 650 chemicals released by manufacturing facilities and waste management companies, including metal mines, coal mines, electrical utilities and chemical wholesalers.

Manufacturing plants in Maine emitted nearly 8 million pounds of toxic chemicals in 1999. Nearly 8 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were released nationally, with Nevada having the highest level. Mining and electric utilities released almost half of the total toxic chemicals nationwide.

State officials credit a toxic use reduction law in Maine that encourages facilities to actively participate in a reduction program. The level of toxic pollutants released by Maine companies has dropped by 20 percent since the previous year, according to the EPA.

The annual study, mandated by Congress under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, is meant to alert residents of what could be in the air, water and ground in their communities. “If you live in a community and in looking at this data you realize you have emissions in your community, then you need to be looking at potential health issues,” said Rayna Leibowitz, technological hazards program manager for the Maine Emergency Management Agency. “While there are public policy issues for regulatory agencies, I think there’s an opportunity for the public to become educated and aware and proactive.”

Leibowitz said the best way for Maine residents to use the data from the toxic inventory report is to find out how individual chemicals could affect their health. The EPA Web site, http://www.epa.gov, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection have information on chemical emissions. Internet users can research effects of chemical emissions at http://www.scorecard.org.

However, recent surveys of the air in Maine, not necessarily the toxic levels coming out of the state’s manufacturers, have shown heavy emissions that blow in from Midwestern power plants. A group of acid rain researchers said in March that New England lakes, forests and streams would die without stronger controls on power plant emissions.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, introduced a bill this year that would force power plants to reduce four major pollutants – nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury and carbon dioxide – by 2007. This came after President Bush announced he would back down from a campaign pledge to restrict power plant emissions.