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September 14, 2009 Jay Finegan, 287-1445
State Rep. Peter Edgecomb Named to National Leadership Groups on Energy, Environment

AUGUSTA – Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree has named State Rep. Peter Edgecomb to two influential national committees that operate under the auspices of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The appointments, which take effect immediately, will bring him into contact with state legislators from around the nation to share approaches and solutions to common energy and environmental issues.

“I’m honored by these appointments and by the opportunity to represent Maine at the national level,” said Rep. Edgecomb (R-Caribou), a third-term legislator. “The NCSL is an outstanding organization and serves as a forum for legislators to share information about options being considered in other states. The best ideas don’t necessarily come from the federal government. The most innovative solutions often come from the states.”

Rep. Edgecomb will join the NCSL’s Standing Committee on Agriculture and Energy, which has jurisdiction over state and federal agriculture and rural development legislation, natural resources legislation and energy and electric utilities legislation. It has recently addressed such issues as energy security, water allocation dispute resolution and cost-benefit analysis of environmental regulations.

He also will join the Standing Committee on the Environment, which educates Congress and federal agencies about state concerns regarding a variety of issues, such as air quality and water management. Its jurisdiction extends to a diverse group of environmental issues, including natural disasters, waste disposal, pesticides and alternative energy.

In the Maine Legislature, Rep. Edgecomb serves as the ranking Republican on the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. He also is a member of the Natural Resources Committee, which deals with air and water quality; shoreland zoning; subdivisions; and growth management. In addition, the Natural Resources panel has jurisdiction over management and disposal of solid, hazardous, biomedical and special wastes; hydropower and dams; mining; and general environmental policy, including oversight of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Rep. Edgecomb said one of the strengths of the NCSL is its firm support for state sovereignty. “At a time of growing federal encroachment on states’ rights, we’re fortunate to have this strong advocate for federalism,” he said.

The NCSL, based in Denver, is a bipartisan organization. Its committees have no actual legislative authority. Instead, they attempt to educate Congress and federal agencies as to state concerns regarding the most pressing state issues.

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