Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $3.1 Million for Maine Environmental Priorities

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Maine Department of Environmental Protection a total of $3,170,745 to support a variety of environmental programs through the Performance Partnership Grant program.  The federal funds will be used to administer environmental programs for air, water, and toxics throughout the state and direct resources to address environmental and public health concerns.

“The success of Maine’s economy is heavily dependent on the protection of our air and water,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.  “We welcome this continued funding, which will enable the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to continue their work to preserve marine and land environments and ensure Mainers continue to have access to clean, safe air and water.”

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection will use the Performance Partnership Grant funding to support air monitoring activities, continue implementing a comprehensive water monitoring strategy covering lakes, rivers, estuaries and wetlands, continue the development of biological assessment techniques for lakes and wetlands, and implement a beach monitoring program. This award also includes funding from the EPA’s Wetland Program Development Grants, which will protect, manage, and restore Maine wetlands.

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