Intertidal zone belongs to beachfront owners, judge says
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine judge has ruled that the intertidal zone belongs to beachfront property owners but the ruling didn’t specify what activities, if any, might be allowed there. The decision was a setback for plaintiffs who sued last year to overturn private ownership of the coastal land between the high and low tide marks. Most coastal states own the land between the low and high tide marks on their beaches, but the Maine Supreme Judicial Court previously ruled that private ownership stretches to the low-water mark. The ruling by Superior Court Justice John O’Neil Jr. upheld the status quo, but the judge suggested that a future orders could expand the allowed uses for the public on the intertidal zone that’s in question.
FORMER MAYOR EVICTION
Judge rules that former Portland mayor can be evicted
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine judge has rejected a former Portland mayor’s contention that he was being evicted in retaliation for organizing on behalf of tenants. The judge ruled Wednesday that the landlord’s actions against Ethan Strimling were not retaliatory and that Strimling could be evicted. Strimling refused to leave when he was served with the eviction notice last year, contending he was being targeted for organizing a tenants union to fight rent increases. His attorney said he’ll likely seek a jury trial.
RIGHT WHALES-LOBSTER GEAR
NOAA acknowledges shortage of gear to protect whales
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The federal government is acknowledging that supply chain issues will prevent all lobstermen from having gear needed to protect North Atlantic right whales before a May 1 deadline. The rules will still go into effect on that date, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday it will use a “graduated enforcement effort” until supplies are resolved. Maine’s congressional delegation and governor said they were disappointed that NOAA didn’t simply delay the rules until July 1. The rules require lobstermen to start using weakened rope or special inserts to weaken existing rope in some waters to prevent whale entanglements.
BEACHFRONT PROPERTY-TIDAL ZONE
Intertidal zone belongs to beachfront owners, judge says
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine judge has ruled that the intertidal zone belongs to beachfront property owners but the ruling didn’t specify what activities, if any, might be allowed there. The decision was a setback for plaintiffs who sued last year to overturn private ownership of the coastal land between the high and low tide marks. Most coastal states own the land between the low and high tide marks on their beaches, but the Maine Supreme Judicial Court previously ruled that private ownership stretches to the low-water mark. The ruling by Superior Court Justice John O’Neil Jr. upheld the status quo, but the judge suggested that a future orders could expand the allowed uses for the public on the intertidal zone that’s in question.
NOAA acknowledges shortage of gear to protect whales
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The federal government is acknowledging that supply chain issues will prevent all lobstermen from having gear needed to protect North Atlantic right whales before a May 1 deadline. The rules will still go into effect on that date, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday it will use a “graduated enforcement effort” until supplies are resolved. Maine’s congressional delegation and governor said they were disappointed that NOAA didn’t simply delay the rules until July 1. The rules require lobstermen to start using weakened rope or special inserts to weaken existing rope in some waters to prevent whale entanglements.
Judge rules that former Portland mayor can be evicted
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine judge has rejected a former Portland mayor’s contention that he was being evicted in retaliation for organizing on behalf of tenants. The judge ruled Wednesday that the landlord’s actions against Ethan Strimling were not retaliatory and that Strimling could be evicted. Strimling refused to leave when he was served with the eviction notice last year, contending he was being targeted for organizing a tenants union to fight rent increases. His attorney said he’ll likely seek a jury trial.
MAINE LEGISLATURE-OUT-OF-STATE WASTE
Governor signs bill closing loophole on out-of-state waste
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Janet Mills has signed into law a bill that closes a loophole that allowed out-of-state garbage to be dumped in a state-owned landfill. Sarah Nichols from the Natural Resources Council of Maine said the bill, signed by the governor on Monday, makes sure landfills are managed with communities’ best interests in mind. The law ends a loophole that allowed trash from Massachusetts and New Hampshire to be processed in Maine, reclassified as Maine waste and then dumped in the Juniper Ridge landfill, near Old Town.
AP-US-TRIBAL-SOVEREIGNTY
Legislature extends session, giving new life to tribal bills
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Time is running out for several tribal sovereignty bills in the Maine Legislature. Two of the three bills were in jeopardy before being given new life when the Legislature agreed Wednesday to extend the session by another day. The Legislature already enacted a bill that would give the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point control over its drinking water. But two other bills were pending further action in the Senate. The most sweeping of the measures would amend the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 to ensure tribal members in the state have the same rights as the nation’s other tribes.
MAN SHOT-FEDERAL BUILDING
FBI: Man shot after assaulting guard in federal building
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The FBI says a man armed with a knife was shot after assaulting a Federal Protective Service guard in the federal building in Augusta. The unidentified assailant was taken to the hospital. His condition was not known. The incident unfolded at about 11:30 a.m. when the man entered the Edmund S. Muskie Federal Building with a knife. The FBI said he assaulted one FPS guard before being shot by another guard. The FBI said there was no threat to the public. The building is about two blocks from the state government complex that includes the State House.