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.
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 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.
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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.
Posted inLocal & State
First tests reveal high PFAS levels in spilled foam, ponds at Brunswick Landing
Test results and cleanup and remediation updates will be shared with the public at a meeting Thursday night.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Brunswick Landing is Maine’s biggest firefighting foam spill in 30 years
Maine has tried before to find out how much of this toxic substance is out there, or if it’s safely stored, but efforts have been largely ignored. Officials say they need lawmakers’ approval before they can make changes.
Posted inLocal & State
Maine DEP downplays Brunswick chemical spill risk to private drinking wells
The Department of Environmental Protection plans to ask nearby residents for permission to test their private drinking water wells, but it will not be sampling every one.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Times Record
Toxic foam spreads to pond in wake of Brunswick chemical spill
Foam has been building up in ponds and billowing through the air near Brunswick Landing since 1,600 gallons of fire-suppressing chemical was accidentally released Monday.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Foam spill spews dangerous forever chemicals at Brunswick airport
Officials say a fire suppression system malfunctioned, discharging 1,600 gallons of firefighting foam concentrate – 4 to 5 feet deep in some places – at the former Naval Air Station.