Northeast Scenario
1. Mercury:
Levels of methylmercury in lobster, soft shell clam, cod, and sea scallop caught in
Passamaquoddy Bay next to the Passamaquoddy Reservation range up to 1.2 ug/g dry
weight. MeHG in porpoise the tribe eats during special ceremonies is 17 ug/g (!)
What is the source of the contamination?
Maps – US/Maine/reservation
Eastern Maine, St. Croix River, Domtar, Calais, Tannery
2. Acid Rain.
pH in St. Croix River is 6.0 to 7.0 from June – Feb. In Mar-May it drops to 4.5.
What is the cause of the decrease in pH?
What implications to the salmon, other fish, invertebrates in the river?
Maps: US/Maine/Reservation
Watershed map, with Domtar.
Monthly precipitation:
Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total
3.5 3.2 3.6 4.2 4.5 3.0 2.6 4.6 4.2 4.4 3.6 3.5 44.9
Precipitation from Dec. – Mar is mostly snow.
3. NOx
High conc. Of NOx found in air sampler on reservation. What is the source?
How may this impact tribal health, respiratory problems, asthma, diabetes?
Maps
US/Maine/Reservation
Eastern Maine, Domtar, Cutler Naval Base.
Cutler Naval Base in Maine DEP air quality violations for smoke stack emissions from
diesel generators used for electrical power.
4. Pesticides
Pesticides in tribal drinking water
Acetochlor
Atrazine
Hexaginone
2,4-D
What is the source of these toxins, and what can be done to reduce contamination?
Maps
US/Maine/reservation
Maps of agricultural use of Maine
NEBCO.