A revised mining bill (L.D. 750) will soon come before the Legislature for a vote. Please contact your legislators and ask them to vote against this dangerous bill. This bill was crafted to favor J.D. Irving, Ltd., not to protect Maine’s environment.

L.D. 750 as amended allows open-pit mining with tailings ponds for treatment and storage of waste. This is a 100-year-old high-risk technology that is a recipe for disaster in places like Maine where sulfide deposits occur.

There is no mining expertise in Maine. Mining engineering consultants were not contacted for advice on new technologies for mining in this environment. Modern mines using old technology are still causing major environmental disasters.

This happened in Canada last year when a tailings dam failed and toxic waste was released into pristine waters. We can’t let that happen in Maine.

Mining companies worldwide are embracing “best available technology” and moving away from open-pit mining and tailings ponds. We must prohibit open-pit mining and tailings ponds in Maine.

Unfortunately, the public does not trust the Department of Environmental Protection under this administration to protect the environment. Maine’s clean water and other natural resources must be protected for future generations.

Dave Wood

Hallowell