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University of Maine School of Law

Environmental law

Ocean and Coastal Law Journal

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Full-Text Articles in Law

Maine Lobstermen And The North Atlantic Right Whale: The Ongoing Conflict And The Obvious Solution, Allison K. Briggs Jul 2022

Maine Lobstermen And The North Atlantic Right Whale: The Ongoing Conflict And The Obvious Solution, Allison K. Briggs

Ocean and Coastal Law Journal

The majestic North Atlantic right whale is on the brink of extinction. With fewer than seventy breeding females left, every loss contributes to a decrease in biodiversity and brings us closer to an unrecognizable planet. Like most critically endangered species, the plummeting number of North Atlantic right whales is a direct result of human activity. Specifically, gear used by the lobster fishing industry is entangling and killing right whales off the coast of Maine. The federal Endangered Species Act, meant to protect vulnerable species like the North Atlantic right whale, is violated every time the State of Maine permits Maine …


Avoiding Septic Shock: How Climate Change Can Cause Septic System Failure And Whether New England States Are Prepared, Elena Mihaly Jan 2018

Avoiding Septic Shock: How Climate Change Can Cause Septic System Failure And Whether New England States Are Prepared, Elena Mihaly

Ocean and Coastal Law Journal

Climate change poses a number of difficult challenges to New England's infrastructure. The most commonly discussed impacts include flooding of roads, bridges, and culverts, or water damage to buildings and electric utilities. A less discussed, but equally alarming challenge to infrastructure is how climate change is impacting onsite wastewater treatment systems, more commonly known as septic systems. Almost half of homes in New England depend on septic systems to dispose of wastewater. When functioning properly, these systems filter out harmful bacteria and pathogens to ensure nearby groundwater and surface waters are safe for human health and the environment. But rising …