VAN BUREN – Progress was witnessed and contamination warnings were issued in the St. John Valley on Thursday, as residents of the region continued to clean up from the massive flooding that took place in the area earlier this month.

In Van Buren, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins lauded the reopening of the Van Buren Port of Entry to truck traffic. The port will once again usher such traffic through today at 8 a.m.

The port of entry has been closed since May 1, when the flooding St. John River damaged the building and raised concerns about the stability of the ground under the access road and plaza.

During that time, trucks were diverted to the Madawaska and Hamlin border crossings.

The port reopened to passenger traffic on May 14, but opening it to truck traffic will allow trade to resume to its pre-flood levels.

“The resumption of truck traffic through the Van Buren Port of Entry is another positive and major step to help the port return back to pre-flood operations,” Collins, who is the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said in a written statement. “The recent flooding had such a devastating impact on Northern Maine, and a long-term closure of the Van Buren Port would have caused further problems for communities already suffering. I am grateful that officials at CBP and GSA worked so quickly to ensure that this port is fully operational as soon as possible.”

Michaud said that the reopening to truck traffic was “very welcome news.”

“I have heard the frustrations expressed by a number of residents and small businesses, and I totally understand where they are coming from,” said the congressman. “Though it may have taken longer than desired, I appreciate the General Service Administration’s work to handle this as quickly as possible while maintaining safety.

“The reopening of the Van Buren Port of Entry is welcome news to the region’s economy and a positive step forward in the rebuilding of our communities,” he added.

In other flood-related news, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention urged consumers – especially those affected by the recent flooding – to thoroughly wash all fiddleheads after harvesting and to thoroughly cook them by boiling for 10 minutes or steaming for 20 minutes.

“These precautions should always be taken before consuming any fiddleheads, but they may be especially important in areas affected by the recent flooding in the St. John River Valley,” said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, director of the CDC.

Mills said that floodwaters can become contaminated with bacteria and with fuel or other chemicals.

“We are saying to continue to take the usual precautions and to be especially mindful of them when you are harvesting in the flood zone,” she said.

She added that there have been no reports of any illnesses associated with fiddleheads in Aroostook County this year.

Consumers can find more information on how to safely enjoy fiddleheads from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension (http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/4198.htm). Persons who believe that they may have become ill as a result of eating fiddleheads should call the Maine CDC at 800-821-5821.

jlbdn@ainop.com

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