EPA awards almost $2M to protect Maine’s air and water

Collins photo courtesy / MEDILL DC, FLICKR; King photo Courtesy / U.S. Naval War College, FLICKR U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $1.945 million to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to help protect Maine's environment.

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By Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $1.945 million to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to help protect Maine’s environment.

Maine DEP received $1.7 million to administer environmental programs for air, water, and waste throughout the state, while Maine DHHS received $220,915 to develop and implement a public water system supervision program to adequately enforce national drinking water regulations and the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, announced the funding in a news release on Monday.

“The success of our economy in Maine depends upon the protection of clean, safe water and clean air,” Collins and King said in a joint statement. “This funding will enable the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to continue their important work to ensure Mainers have access to clean, safe drinking water and air.”

Maine DEP is responsible for protecting and restoring Maine's natural resources and enforcing the state's environmental laws. Maine DHHS serves approximately one-third of the people of Maine, providing health care and social service support to children, the elderly, the disabled, people with mental illness or substance abuse issues and low-income individuals and families.