Search

Jul 2, 2023

Maine Surface Waters Ambient Toxics Monitoring Program SWAT 1999 to 2022

Since  the 1990s the state of Maine has compiled information on the heavy metals, organochlorines and other wastes in our state's surface waters, fresh, brackish and salt. This is the Surface Waters Ambient Toxics Monitoring Program  or SWAT.   Below are the reports from most recent 2021-2022 back to 1999 

Note: SWAT reports 2009-1999 are internet archived. DEP has chosen to remove  its early SWAT records 1999 to 2009. Those are presented below in their entirety  in their Internet Archive  "reincarnation"

While these were presented to the agency  several years ago and received with acclamations of relief  by  Swatfolk , they have not  returned these reports back onto the state's website - even though every  

 2023 - 2024 SWAT Report PDF 

2021-2022 SWAT Report (PDF)  

2019-2020 SWAT Report (PDF)

2017-2018 SWAT Report (PDF)

2015-2016 SWAT Report (PDF)

2014 SWAT Report (PDF)

2013 SWAT Report (PDF)

2012 SWAT Report (PDF)

2011 SWAT Report (PDF)

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Data Rescue

Surface Water Ambient Toxics   2009-1999    

Links to separate report sections below list 

     *  2009 report

      *   2007 Report

 2006 Report

 2005 Report

 2004 Report

 2002-2003

 2001

 2000

 1999

2006 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report

2005 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report
2004 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report

2002-2003 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report

Ambient Biological Monitoring: Text and Tables; Temperature Graphs (2002 and 2003); Maps
Data files: (2002) 1135, 1136, 1137, 1138, 1139, 1140, 1141, 1142, 1143, 1444, 1145, 1146, 1147, 1149, 1150, 1151, 1152, 1153, 1154, 1157, 1158, 1159, 1160, 1161, 1162, 1164, 1165, 1166, 1167, 1168, 1169, 1173, 1178, 1181, 1182, 1183, 1185, 1186, 1187.
Date files: (2003) 1220, 1221, 1222, 1223, 1224, 1227, 1228, 1229, 1230, 1231, 1232, 1233, 1235, 1238, 1239, 1240, 1245, 1246, 1247, 1250, 1251, 1254, 1255, 1257, 1258, 1259, 1260, 1261, 1262, 1263, 1264, 1265, 1266, 1267, 1268, 1272, 1273, 1274, 1275, 1276, 1277.

2003 Kennebec River Caged Mussel Study


2001 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report

2000 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report. This report contains the results of the 2000 SWAT monitoring program.   There are also separate full reports of the 'Loon Effects Study', summarized in the Lakes Module, and a report of the 'Caged Mussel Dioxin Bioassay' and 'Caged Mussel PCB Study', summarized in the Special Studies module.  

1999 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report. 1999 SWAT Report.  This report contains the results of Maine’s 1999 Surface Water Ambient Toxic (SWAT) monitoring program. Much of the data was previously summarized in a progress report published in June 2000. That report was used by the SWAT Technical Advisory Group and the DEP in review and development of the 2000 SWAT workplan. All of the data have been used as soon as received in DEP’s water quality management activities wherever appropriate.

Important Note 6/11/01: The 1999 SWAT mussels for nickel and copper are being reanalyzed. The correct data will be added when the analysis is completed.

The report is organized into 4 parts, 1 Coastal, 2 Lakes, 3 Rivers and Streams, and 4 Special Studies. Within each part, results are presented in the order of the 1999 workplan.

Questions may be directed to authors of each study or to Barry Mower, DEP, SHS 17, Augusta, Maine 04333, tel: 207-287-7777.

A Decade of Toxic Monitoring Along Maine's Coast.   More information added 6/2000.

Fish tissue contamination in the State of Maine; fish consumption advisories

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:Penobscot Bay, Penobscot River , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jun 20, 2023

Maine's marine fish wardens & pickled fish inspectors 1897-1912

FROM: Reports of the Commissioners of Sea and Shore Fisheries of the State of Maine for 1897- 1912

"There are, in the State and on duty at the present time, twenty-three fish wardens who serve twelve months in the year, and nine sardine wardens who serve but six months in the year. 

The duties of these men are to look up and bring to justice violators, and to gather statistical information for this department.

1897 1898 edition of the Commissioner's report describes wardens but does not list their names.  

1999-1900 Fish Wardens 

1901-1902 Fish Wardens  (scroll down alongside tables)

1901-1902  Sardine Wardens

1903- 1904 Fish Wardens and Sardine Wardens  

1907-1908 Fish Wardens and Pickled Fish inspectors  

1909-1910 Fish Wardens and Pickled Fish Inspectors  

1911-1912  Fish Wardens and Picked Fish Inspectors 

"I have no occasion to find fault with those on duty now, and I believe they are doing what they are able to do for the benefit of the State....If the citizens of the State would assist these men in the performance of their duties, instead of sympathizing with the violators, it would be a much easier task that would fall to their lot."







Posted by at No comments:
Labels:Penobscot Bay, Penobscot River , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jun 3, 2023

1998 video investigation of Stockton Harbor's Kidder Point waste & pollution sites. Index

My 1998 video investigation & subsequent partial  cleanup  of Stockton Harbor's Kidder Point waste & pollution sites.   Index and video 

Download this video  2hrs, 20minutes long   https://penbay.org/baytowns/searsport/gac_1998/gac_1998_a_022098_waste_erosion_b_040798_cleanup.avi   (may take 45 mins to download)

PART 1.  52min 32sec  February 20 1998 investigation of wastefilled  shore and intertidal mud 55 Minutes Penobscot Bay Watch site investigation. Will Neils, videographer.     NOTE: Part 1 starts after 53 seconds of blank

PART 2   1hr 20min   April 7m, 1998  We discover waste problems in an outfall and a nearby seawater  intake out take pipeline bldg.  DEP orders Clean Harbors to clean it up   We witness that and chat wiith various officials       

PART 1 

START AT 53 sec  Driving to Searsport

55sec  Panorama show of Stockton Harbor - no condos on Cape Jellison.

2:18  More panoramas of the facility   One notes the larg and aged wooden quonset  structures

2:52 Closer in to old acid and superphosphate plant

4:00  Layered filled area near base of point on east side. Notes how far along bank the wooden fill corrals  extend (all the way to in front of the acid plant)

4:55 closer up up water dripping against exposed fill 

5:50  Closeup of another nearby dripping waste slump. 

6:50  Eroding slope  below the acid plant itself.

7:32 Slope 

8:11 osprey...Flats at the tip of the point. Old wooden  superphosphate plant quonset

9:41 outfall piles 

10:17 view to abandoned pumphouse outfall & oily sump. Aerial photos of illegal discharge

11:33 closeup of old superphosphate  wooden plant.  Elevated insulated pipelines from offshore point

12:30 Wooden chimney structure. Scan of the wooden structure then to shore below with artificial filled shoreline

13:22 Closeup eroding pipeline to old pumphouse, then filled shoreline from there to cistern full of oily waste.  We go and examine it.

14:01 Cistern waterfilled. See  top of outfall pipe into the cistern. Probe cistern catch basin: full of oily goo. 

15:53  Old electric junk including transformer View out to rail line with landfill beyond track  Scan around back of existing working plant  and to old superphosphate plant 

17:00 scan superphosphate plant

17:20 Approach old pumphouse

17:55  Down stairs to floor with hatches to bay    Examine hatches and outfall pipes

19:19 Examine oil spigot allowing oil to be discharged into bay .

20:51  Climb out of pumphouse

21:46. Examine a test well near abandoned superphosphate plant

22:51  Observe gust of black smoke from a facility

23: 10  View from the GAC landfill

24:13 View from top of landfill

25:44 Sulfuric acid tank warnings

26:25  Railside acid warnings. walk toward acid plant and superphosphate plant.

PART 2  March 5.  TIDAL FLATS adjacent to Kidder's Point   

27:55   March 5th GAC tidal flats exploration

28:07 Herb Hoche digs test squares,   Dead clams

29:03 Ron discusses clam mystery with Stockton Harbor background

30:29  Herb Hoche digs another site

32:45 Another dig

35:18 Another dig

38:35 Another sample "much closer to the plant"

39:44 Hoche discovers buried tarpaper from roof  of old wooden factory 

43:37  Another dig.  4527   "Our braintrust goes to work."  observes Will Neils.

45:54  Another dig  4944 note dig is in flow of waste

50:21 Examining  discolored mud, with flocculants on top. Hoche  digs, reveals multicolored layers of intertidal mud.  The adjoining shore where a broad reddish band of  leachate is seeping along a layer of clay downslope to upwell there where the intertidal gravel and sand meet the mudflats ..  Hoche dabs the flocculants at several places along the red leachate 

52:40 Hoche  clamdigging in the discolored area Red layer, then an alum silver layer. then another  red Examine the mud there for signs of life; none.

54:05 Closeup of contaminated mud

54:20  Camera investigates the land adjacent to the acid plant

54:53 Top of  ditch running tainted water to the har4bor 

Part 3

56:24 At the old pumphouse again. The Cleanup crew is there at work on cistern

58:28 Ron sums up situation

59:40 Hoche examines seaweed in driftwood

60:03  Cleanup workers. Viewed from the beach - private property rights.   Pans down to  brook adjacent to site.  Herb Hoche  rinses hands in the stream.

63:00  DEP staffer Clarissa Trasko brings straw to below cistern  Goes uphill returns below discusses plan The big suction hose. more A DEP oilspill guy shows up we chat a bit.

71:30 Ron chats with  DEP official Clarissa Trasko at base of cistern.

76:00 2 Coast Guardsmen  arrive  discusses issue with Ron Huber He thanks them for convincing  the company to clean this up  talk ends at 83min

83:00  Suction hose underway

87:00 Officials congregate to watch from front of cistern

88:00 Suction starts up again.

88:38  Surface water removed by suction revealing the massive amount of oily goo there. 

1:29:50  cleanup guy gets suited up. 

1:31 cleanup guy continues 

1:32 test samples collected, snuck away by company official 

1:33 View into cistern

1:35:45 View of cistern with cleaner guy inside

1:36  See outfall choked with waste 

1:36:50 Guy in protective suit in front end of cistern

1:42:10  See old junk boards that were burried in the muck.  he scrapes muck off them

1:47 Protective suited guy climbs out. A lengthy cleaning process forhis   suit removal finally  removes his bootcovers, bags it all up and leaves

1:53 Inside of outfall half full 

1:54 Huber reviews the situation

PART 4

1:55:13   BACK TO PUMPHOUSE

1:56 Funky water alongside rail line. 

1:58:40 along rail line

2:00 Return to cleaned up cistern new wooden front, sheeny water...

2:02  Huber grabs muck sample

2:03:55 brook that goes to bay near the cistern b probed with a stick

2:04:40  Approach pumphouse 

2:05:30  Oil dump barrel is gone. Floor cleaned up. The oily glove still there.

2:08 Old lagoon alongside rail line

2:09 Panorama shot

2:11 Clean Harbors pumptruck.

2:11:51  Steam cranes at Searsport.  Clean Harbors is there, too  

END

























Posted by at No comments:
Labels:Penobscot Bay, Penobscot River , , , , , , , , , , , ,

May 31, 2023

History of Maine Board of Environmental Protection and predecessors, 1940 to 1997

 While I have only been before the Maine Board of Environmental Protection since the early 1990s, the BEP has evolved under several earlier names since the 1940s

History / Board of Environmental Protection

 The Maine Board of Environmental Protection has been in existence in one form or another since the 1940's. In its earliest form, the Board focused on wastewater issues and its membership consisted of representatives from state agencies who had specific technical expertise. Over time, there has been a shift from technical members representing state agencies to non-technical members representing the general public. The scope of the Board's mandate has expanded along with our environmental laws from wastewater issues to all aspects of environmental regulation.

The structure and function of the Board and its role within the Department of Environmental Protection has been periodically reviewed by the Legislature.

In 1982 the Trafton Commission recommended several changes in the Board including:

--- A reduction in the size of the Board
--- Greater technical expertise for Board members,
--- Board jurisdiction to be limited to appeals of DEP Commissioner decisions, and
--- Removal of the DEP Commissioner as a voting member of the Board.

 The only recommendation implemented by the Legislature in 1983 was the removal of the Commissioner as a member of the Board. The Board continued to have oversight of all environmental permits, violations and rule-making initiatives.


In 1989 the legislature formed a sub-committee to evaluate the Board. This evaluation resulted in LD2214, An Act to Clarify the Role of the Board of Environmental Protection. This law made significant changes in the allocation of responsibilities between the Board and the Commissioner.

The Commissioner would issue all permits and licenses except those of "significant" applications which would be referred to the Board for consideration and decision;

Several categories of applications, such as those for hazardous waste management facilities, would automatically remain with the Board;

 

The Board would hear appeals of Commissioner decisions, except those for petroleum cleanup reimbursement cases, which are heard by the Fund Insurance Review Board;

The Board would continue to do all rulemaking.

 

In 1997 the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources appointed   a subcommittee to study the operation of, and staff support for, the Board of Environmental Protection. The Board responded to the subcommittee requests through the 1997 Evaluation Report and the Supplemental Report for 1998. The findings of this Committee resulted in LD 2547, which established the position of Executive Analyst. There were no changes in the Board's role or authority.

An overview of the Board's purpose and operation can be found by clicking on key word "purpose".

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:Penobscot Bay, Penobscot River , ,

May 27, 2023

Maine Space Corporation - Legislature taps new Board of Directors members

 MAINE SPACE CORPORATION BOD  HIRES 5/26/23

Intro 1min 22sec

James Brand 8min 40sec

Debra Bronk Bigelow Lab chief,  7min 53sec

Phillip Rench  SpaceX 11min

Scott Wardwell 10min 15sec

Posted by at No comments:

WRFR 5/27/23 FOSI, SPACE CORP, FOOD SOV BILLS

 FOSI

* Intro Scott Dickerson FOSI  5min 21sec

*Becky Bartovics 11min 21sec

* James Gilway Searsport 8min 53sec

* Susan White 9min 10sec

* Rolf Olson on Mack Point 10min 53sec


MAINE SPACE CORPORATION 5/26/23

Intro 1min 22sec

James Brand 8min 40sec

Debra Bronk Bigelow Lab chief,  7min 53sec

Phillip Rench  SpaceX 11min

Scott Wardwell 10min 15sec


FOOD SOVERIGNTY  LD 1947  5/22/23

iNTRO  by Billybob Faulkingham  15min

UM Ext Food Scientius Mouhmoud NFNA 4min



Posted by at No comments:

May 16, 2023

Coastal fogs and the mercury they can carry within them

Dimethyl Mercury converts to Monomethyl Mercury at low pH. Fog is acidic and the hydrous coating on marine aersosols can be very acidic. Low pH in Fog or on the acidic hydrous coating on marine aersosols can turn Dimethyl Mercury into Monomethyl Mercury. 

===================


================================


===================

The biology of fog: results from coastal Maine and Namib Desert reveal common drivers of fog microbial composition





=========================

Dimethylmercury in Seawater:A Potential Source of Monomethylmercury in Fog

==========================

Fog chemistry at the new england coast: Influence of air mass history (abstract) O.Klemm*A.S.Bachmeier†R.W.Talbot‡K.I.Klemm


"During the spring, summer and fall seasons of 1990, we sampled fog at a coastal location in New England for chemical analysis...



==============

Mercury in fog on the Bay of Fundy (Canada)

Abstract Mercury concentrations in fog water, collected during the summer of 2003, were found to vary along a geospatial gradient from Grand Manan (an island at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, with Hg levels 42–435 ng l−1), the main coastline of New Brunswick at Point Lepreau (2–33 ng l−1), to an inland location in Fredericton, Canada (3.5 ng l−1). 
Hg concentrations were higher during days when air masses were stationary and fog conditions were extended over several days. High concentrations on Grand Manan were most likely due to continued atmospheric deposition of Hg into fog banks of long duration, high air turbulence along the steep 100 m cliffs, and decreasing droplet size with increasing air temperature during the course of the day. We found that fog Hg deposition was about 0.4–7.5% of wet Hg deposition along the coastal area, whereas on Grand Manan Island, fog Hg deposition from was 31–74% of wet Hg deposition.


the variability of the
data, resulting in a synoptic time series spanning over three decades from 1982 to 2014. Benthic
temperatures increased throughout the domain, including in the Gulf of Maine. Rates of benthic warming
ranged from 0.1 to 0.48C per decade, with fastest rates occurring in shallow, nearshore regions and on
Georges Bank, the latter exceeding rates observed in the surface. Rates of benthic warming were up to 1.6
times faster in winter than the rest of the year in many regions, with important implications for disease
occurrence and energetics of overwintering species. Drivers of warming varied over the domain. In southern
New England and the mid-Atlantic shallow Shelf regions, benthic warming was tightly coupled to changes
in SST, whereas both regional and basin-scale changes in ocean circulation affect temperatures in the Gulf
of Maine, the Continental Shelf, and Georges Banks. These results highlight data gaps, the current feasibility
of prediction from remotely sensed variables, and the need for improved understanding on how climate
may affect seasonally specific ecological processes.
Posted by at No comments:

May 11, 2023

Bill to exempt ocean windfarm landbased facilities from scenic and environmental laws. Audio mp3s.

On May 10, 2023 the Maine Legislature's  Environment & Natural Resources Committee  took testimony on LD 1847;  a bill to make  coastal development related to offshore windpower production IMMUNE to Maine's scenic beauty limits or laws.   There were no opponents from the public. Though some skepticism among legislators.    
WARNING: it is full of comical BS on why Sears Island, Searsport, is, alas, the only place on the Maine coast where a "wind terminal" could possibly go, to service windfarm development....off Portland!

LISTEN TO: 

Bill Introduction Chip Curry  and  QA 6min26sec

Testimony on  LD 1847 from DEP Commissioner Melanie Loyzim 5min

QA  of Commissioner Melanie Loyzim 4min 40sec

Beth Ahearn, Me Conservation Voters & QA 6min45sec

Ben Lucas Chamber of Commerce & QA  7min 11sec

Full Public Hearing on LD 1847_30min

The specific purposes for Maine DEP and Maine LUPC

Key changes to laws that LD 1847 proposes, for shielding this industry is excluding the statement that..."determination that an offshore wind terminal fits harmoniously into the existing natural environment in terms of potential effects on scenic or natural character and existing uses related to scenic character is required for approval..."

The bill would do this two ways :
* Allow developers before the Land Use Planning Commission to ignore Title 12, section 685-B, subsection 4, paragraph C.: "Adequate provision has been made for fitting the proposal harmoniously into the existing natural environment"
 
* Allow developers before Maine Dept of Environmental Protection to ignore Title 38, section 484, (Site Law) subsection 3. (No adverse effect on the Natural Environment):
"The developer has made adequate provision for fitting the development harmoniously into the existing natural environment and that the development will not adversely affect existing uses, scenic character, air quality, water quality or other natural resources in the municipality or in neighboring municipalities."
Posted by at No comments:

May 10, 2023

May 8, 2023 ME Legislature's ENR Comm. AUDIO mp3s of public hearing on Bill 718 to restart importing waste from away

 Hearing on LD 718 Full - 4hrs 21min    Read bill

*Meeting intros & Bill intro by Sen Black & QA  5min 21sec

* 1st legislator Sen Ann Carney & QA  15min 18sec

*  Opponents 1  29min   

* Opponents 2. 52min 40sec

MORE TO COME



Posted by at No comments:

May 6, 2023

Penobscot Bay Report 5/6/23

LD 1343  Reproductive freedom 40min

LD 1616 Change the Maine state Seal 10min

LD1297 MMM not Goverment  10 min ONTP

GOC subpoenas Bill 40min 



Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)