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Waste Site Reports: Maine
NOAA trust species in Maine include anadromous and catadromous species such as Atlantic salmon, alewife, American shad, blueback herring, Atlantic herring, sea-run brook trout, rainbow smelt, striped bass, American eel, sea lamprey, Atlantic sturgeon, and the federally endangered shortnose sturgeon. Some estuarine and marine fish found in Maine are menhaden, banded killifish, mummichog, 3-spine stickleback, haddock, Atlantic tomcod, bluefish, 9-spine stickleback, and winter flounder. Invertebrates include American lobster, soft shell clam, hard shell clam, razor clam, deep sea scallop, shrimp, blue mussel, and several species of crab. Commercial and recreational fisheries are important throughout Maine. The fisheries are actively managed and the State of Maine is developing several restoration programs. Harbor seals inhabit Maine's waters during winter and federally endangered cetaceans (humpback, northern right, finback, and minke whales) often visit Maine's coasts.
Military Sites in Maine
Maine is dotted with 177 military installations and formerly used defense areas, comprising 233 DoD sites. The nature of defense-related activities involves chemicals that are highly toxic and persistent in the environment. In Maine, military contaminants of concern include DDT, PCBs, PAHs, VOCs, benzene, xylenes, waste fuels, oils, spent solvents, and heavy metals. The NOAA CRC program has conducted coastal hazardous waste site reviews for Brunswick Naval Air Station, Loring Air Force Base, and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The program has played an important role in ecological risk assessments for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard site since 1989, providing EPA and the Navy with recommendations and guidance to develop a scientifically defensible Expedited Response Action (ERA). Such comments have been greatly appreciated by the EPA Remedial Project Manager (RPM), the Navy, and the Navy contractors. DoD has 73 installations contemplated for restoration in Maine. NOAA's input is needed now to ensure that cleanups are protective of coastal natural resources as well as human health. NOAA offers technical expertise and a neutral perspective that is valued by both the military and the local public.
Areas of Special Concern in Maine
The NOAA RRC program works to protect and restore natural resources throughout Maine. However, the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers, as well as Merrymeeting Bay where the two rivers meet, are of special concern to NOAA. This is one of the most productive estuaries in Maine, providing important habitat for NOAA trust resources. The shortnose sturgeon, a federally endangered species, uses the Androscoggin River for spawning, nursery, and adult habitat. A health advisory suggested limited consumption of all fish caught in the Androscoggin above Brunswick because of dioxin contamination. However, this advisory has had negligible effect on commercial fishing.
Another site of concern is Little Madawaska River, the location of a small Atlantic salmon fishery. Elevated PCB concentrations in fish suggest that the Atlantic salmon population in the river is adversely affected and that restoration results could be limited.
Reports Not Yet Available Online
- Brunswick Naval Air Station (Reviewed 1987); CERCLIS No. = ME8170022018
Waste Site Reports
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- ME: McKin Company (Reviewed 1984); CERCLIS No. = MED980524078
(Document format: PDF, size: 388.9 K)
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- ME: O'Connor Company (Reviewed 1984); CERCLIS No. = MED980731475
(Document format: PDF, size: 377.3 K)
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Other pages in this series
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