A new law sponsored by Rep. Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich, to provide direct funds to communities to support their efforts to reduce the presence of browntail moths went into effect this week.
LD 1929, An Act To Provide Assistance to Areas Severely Infested with Browntail Moths, creates a fund for municipalities and nonprofit organizations, such as a land trust, to use to control moth populations. The bill also directs the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to administer the program and establishes two positions within the department to support the management of forest insect pests.
The agency aims to finalize rules later this year in order to award funds in early 2023.
“I’ve heard from so many constituents who have been affected by the growing browntail moth population in our state,” said Hepler. “These pests have an impact on our environmental and personal health and, without mitigation efforts, could begin to impact our tourism economy. I hope this new law will make it easier for communities across the state to tackle this problem together.”
Browntail moths have spread quickly across the state in the past few years. The invasive species creates both a forest and human health concern, causing significant defoliation and a spectrum of health-related effects ranging from a localized rash to serious respiratory distress. In 2021, the Maine Forest Service reported that over 198,000 acres of forest were defoliated due to the pests.
Hepler is serving her second term in the Maine House and sits on both the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee and Marine Resources Committee. She represents the towns of Arrowsic, Dresden, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Woolwich and part of Richmond.
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