PHOTO: Peter Rubins, chairman of Grow L+A’s River Working Group, will speak about reclassifying the Androscoggin Jan. 28. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal photo)
LEWISTON — Peter Rubins, chairman of Grow L+A’s River Working Group will discuss “To ‘B’ or Not to ‘B’: Reclassifying Muskie’s Androscoggin,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, in a free Zoom discussion.
Rubins will expand on the current conditions and issues facing the Androscoggin River’s rehabilitation and reclassification, and explain the importance of the Clean Water Act, sponsored by Sen. Edmund Muskie, for keeping the waterways in Maine healthy. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask Rubins questions about the Androscoggin during the Q&A portion of the event.
Rubins said that 50 years ago the Androscoggin River was considered one of the top 10 polluted rivers in the country, and Muskie, who grew up on the river in Rumford, “muscled the Clean Air Act, 1970, and the Clean Water Act of 1972, through Congress, emphasizing that clean air and clean water are the two most required substances for life on Earth.”
State Sen. Ned Claxton, D-Auburn, has introduced a bill to the Maine Legislature to upgrade the classification of the lower Androscoggin from the lowest class, C, to Class B.
“Our data shows that the river meets the standards for Class B, 99 percent of the time,” Rubins said.
“It seems fitting that Peter Rubins and Grow L+A would see their years of commitment and perseverance come to fruition on the 50th anniversary of Senator Muskie’s Clean Water Act. Museum L-A is honored to provide partnership in this most important and exciting endeavor!” said Audrey Thomson, executive director at Museum L-A.
Attendance for the online event is free, but advance registration is required, as space is limited. For more information and to register, visit www.museumla.org.
