UMaine Response to Environmental Protection Agency Findings

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered issued a news release relative to wetlands issues on the University of Maine campus.  UMaine has provided the following response to that news release:

Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571

University of Maine officials expressed appreciation today for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s approach to helping the university manage issues related to wetlands on the university’s Orono campus.

“The EPA announcement today reflects a constructive and effective approach to mitigating these issues and to developing a model long-term plan for wetlands management on our campus,” says Elaine Clark, UMaine’s assistant vice president for facilities, real estate and planning. “We have been working collaboratively with the EPA for months to create solutions that will address environmental concerns and create opportunities for our students to participate in helping manage these issues in way that will enhance their classroom experiences.”

Clark noted that UMaine has been proactive in disclosing issues to the EPA, and that the university has taken measures to create safeguards to ensure that these mistakes are not repeated in the future.  She also praised the EPA for its willingness to engage in a collaborative process and its decision to forgo financial penalties, allowing the university to apply its financial resources to environmental improvements.

News stories about this issue have been reported by the Bangor Daily News.