The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com

Anya Fetcher is a federal policy advocate at the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

This summer, I spent a weekend camping on Webb Lake in Mt. Blue State Park, swimming in the cold, clear waters where native brook trout and many other fish species thrive. Each morning, I was greeted by a pair of belted kingfishers searching for breakfast. I watched an asylum of loons (yes, that's what it's called!) chattering away in the late afternoon sun. And I even caught a glimpse of a young moose and its mother on my way to hike Tumbledown Mountain.

As Mainers, we all have a special connection to the outdoors, whether we're camping, fishing, or snowmobiling deep in the woods. Not only do places like this provide exceptional experiences, they also provide clean drinking water, draw toxins out of the air, and so much more. We can't take these places for granted.

Unfortunately, Maine's environment is under attack in Washington, D.C., as part of an ideological agenda focused on eliminating the federal government's important role in protecting our clean air, water and natural resources.

In July 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee released and then quickly approved its proposed FY26 budget, targeting the Environmental Protection Agency for some of the deepest cuts of any domestic agency, cutting its budget by $2.1 billion (23%) from the current levels, and its workforce by 1,274 (23%).

These proposed cuts represent the most extreme rollback of environmental funding in decades. If enacted, we risk undoing decades of progress and leaving a legacy of environmental harm that would negatively impact Maine's environment and communities for generations to come.

In a "Damaging Maine" report released recently by the Natural Resources Council of Maine, we detail the impact of these proposed cuts on Maine's people, communities, and environment. You can visit nrcm.org to view the report.

The programs that are targeted for deep cuts -- or even elimination -- aren't just nice to have, they are lifesaving. Maine relies on grants to local towns for wastewater treatment upgrades, replacing lead pipes, and cleaning up toxic waste sites, including those with PFAS. Our health depends on pollution controls for fossil fuel power plants in other states that release mercury, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and other toxins into the air. This air pollution, carried to Maine by prevailing winds, harms those most vulnerable among us, including children with asthma and older adults with respiratory issues, while also accumulating in our rivers and fish, making them impossible to eat.

The dramatic cuts being proposed to the EPA would also scale back funding for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which relies heavily on federal funding for nearly every aspect of its work, including compliance with the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and hazardous waste laws. In 2024, DEP received $10.69 million in dedicated grants from EPA, amounting to more than 21.5% of its budget and 102 personnel.

Here in Maine, our economy is inextricably linked to the health of our environment. If the House's proposed cuts are adopted, the effects will be felt far beyond government agencies. Maine's lakes and other surface waters will likely be more polluted; communities with brownfield and Superfund sites may never see them cleaned up; and communities could see higher rates of illness linked to poor air and water quality. Businesses that rely on a clean environment and the latest research -- including fisheries, tourism, forestry, and outdoor recreation -- would face growing uncertainty and economic risk.

In contrast, the Senate Appropriations Committee, under the leadership of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, released a draft budget that largely retains the EPA's role of protecting health and the environment. As the budget debate progresses, we encourage Collins to continue protecting the essential role that the EPA plays in protecting the health and safety of Maine's people, communities, and environment.

Cuts to EPA are a risk to Maine's clean air and water