AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted unanimously, of those present, to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, on Wednesday. As amended, LD 276, An Act to Assist Municipalities in Preventing Damage from Storm Water, would clarify in Maine law that Brunswick and the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) have the authority to seek, receive and spend funds on both public and private roads and storm water management systems on the former Brunswick Naval Air Station.
"Environmental hazards don't respect property lines, and we need the flexibility to respond across the entirety of Brunswick Landing if we want to protect our clean drinking water, have a functional working waterfront and restore and maintain a resilient coastline," said Ankeles. "I'm so grateful that both the committee and the Department of Environmental Protection agreed."
Current law limits spending to only publicly-owned infrastructure and presents difficulties for both Brunswick and MRRA, because the properties on the former naval air station are a unique mix of public, private and quasi-governmental jurisdictions and ownerships. The former naval air stations roads and storm water management systems are aging, and the potential for dangerous runoff is high.
"This bill cuts red tape holding back Brunswick's climate restoration and resiliency efforts and will be especially helpful when either Brunswick or MRRA seeks outside funding sources," said Ankeles. "We are much more likely to win competitive grants or qualify for one-time funding opportunities when its clear that we have the authority to act on the entire problem, not just bits and pieces."
This bill is one of three measures Ankeles has sponsored to improve storm water management infrastructure on both Brunswick Landing and throughout Maine. LD 941 would direct the state to create and fund a long-range plan for conventional and environmental infrastructure replacement on Brunswick Landing and provide for the removal of any remaining sources of hazardous PFAS chemicals. LR 493, which has not been printed yet, would create a new revolving fund that would help all Maine municipalities upgrade their storm water management systems.
LD 276 faces further votes in the House and Senate in the coming weeks.
Rep. Ankeles, a member of the Transportation Committee, is serving his first term in the Maine House. He represents House District 100, a central slice of Brunswick that includes downtown, the former naval airbase and Bowdoin College.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Ankeles], c. 305-965-2744