LD 489 Language: The people of the State have the right to a clean and healthy environment and to the preservation of the natural, cultural and healthful qualities of the environment. The State may not infringe upon these rights. The State shall conserve, protect and maintain the State’s natural resources, including, but not limited to, its air, water, land and ecosystems for the benefit of all the people, including generations yet to come.

Dear Representatives of the Maine State Legislature,

We urge you to vote in favor of the Pine Tree Amendment. As scientists, researchers and science practitioners who work and live in the State of Maine, we study the impacts of various pollutants, development activity, climate change, etc., upon human, societal and ecosystem health and function.  We create sophisticated models based upon our best, most comprehensive understandings of these systems in an attempt to predict how threats may impact future generations here in Maine and beyond. What we cannot do--at least not alone--is ensure that the measures taken to address the vast array of challenges that science has now revealed to us, will be adequate to the task at hand.  This is the job of decision makers at every level of government and society.  

It is our belief that Maine’s chances for making the best decisions, for finding the most effective, most equitable solutions to the current and future challenges that science portends, will be greatly strengthened and preserved by the guiding principles enshrined in the Pine Tree Amendment.  

As scientists we believe that the Pine Tree Amendment, codifying in law the right of all people in Maine to clean air, clean water and a healthy environment, will go a long way toward ensuring that the people, now and in the future, will have a meaningful place at the table as decisions are made that will determine our common fate.  

We respectfully ask you to support the Pine Tree Amendment.