BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 4, 2025
More information is essential to act in the public interest. The Clean Water Act led to a dramatic turnaround in water quality and ecosystem health, with a direct impact on the health of Americans. The willingness of politicians to reach bipartisan compromise to study the problem and regulate the offending industries was driven by a sense of fairness and accountability. Now that we face widespread toxic contamination again we should remember how science and regulation led to a more livable Maine. What we should not do is shoot the messenger. How we manage to uphold these values despite the best efforts of billionaires and mega-corporations will define Maine’s environmental and public health future. ~ Joel Clement, 10th generation Mainer and award-winning former federal whistleblower with a background in climate change, science, and the environment