RadioActive 4/11/19 Proposed Water Bills Would Impact Industrial Water Extraction in Maine

Proposed Water Bills Would Impact Industrial Water Extraction in Maine

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

a) Today we speak with watchdog group Nickie Sekera at Community Water Justice about five bills that could impact industrial water extraction in Maine, specifically by Poland Spring, owned by Nestle Waters North America.

b) A public hearing on the bills was before the Maine Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee on April 10th, attended by representatives of state agencies, water districts, watch dog groups and industry, including Nestle North America.
The bills being considered are LD 1474 “An Act to Ensure Water Equity and Accountability for the People of the State”, sponsored by Rep. Hickman legislature.maine.gov/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1076&item=1&snum=129, LD 1121 ” An act to Acknowledge Potable Water as a Necessity. Sponsored by Senator Chenette legislature.maine.gov/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0341&item=1&snum=129, LD 197 “An Act to Convene a Working Group to Authorize a Public Trust for Maine’s Groundwater”, sponsored by Rep. Sylvester legislature.maine.gov/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0160&item=1&snum=129, LD 413 ” An Act to Ensure the Rights of Citizens to Groundwater in the State” www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0322&item=1&snum=129, sponsored by Rep Riseman, An Act to Further the Public Interest In All Maine Waters, sponsored by Lori Gramlich

The Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee will hold its work session on the bills Wednesday, April 24th.

Guest: Nickie Sekera, Community Water Justice www.facebook.com/communitywaterjustice/

Today’s program was produced with the Sunlight Media Collective.

legislature.maine.gov/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0980&item=1&snum=129

c) Directly following the public hearing before the ENR, Poland Spring/ Nestle North America released a video and ran full page ads in state news papers promoting their business and commitment “to preserve and protect one of Maine’s most valuable resources.”