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November 18, 2016

Maine DEP dismisses petition for reduced carbon emissions

The state Department of Environmental Protection rejected a petition signed by approximately 400 of Maine’s young adults and voters that requested the state take stronger measures to reduce its carbon footprint.

Sara Lachance, of the Portland-based nonprofit 350 Maine, told Maine Public that having the state’s young adults involved in the effort is necessary because of the risks climate change can have on their lives.

“It is their public trust right to have the air protected and the water protected and all the rest of the natural resources protected for them to have a fruitful future,” Lachance told Maine Public.

Maine Public reported that the petition isn’t unpreceded and that a number of other state’s youths have been successful in securing legal rulings regarding climate change and that many other cases are pending.

A Maine DEP spokesman told Maine Public that the state attorney general reviewed the petition and found it wasn’t properly submitted and now, the petitioners are weighing their options.

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