The Margaret Chase Smith Library is pleased to announce the theme of its 15th annual high school essay contest.

Toward the end of Senator Smith’s career, Congress passed major legislation to clean up America’s air and water. Among other changes, it mandated the end of Maine log drives, like the ones that floated by her Skowhegan home overlooking the Kennebec River. Today, environmental concerns remain prominent public policy issues, from compact fluorescent light bulbs to hybrid cars, from Maine wind farms to the Gulf oil spill, from debates about global warming and climate change to proposals for carbon caps and trading.

The library invites the future stewards of planet Earth to share ideas about what they think should be done to protect the environment. What is the proper balance between private and public interests, the marketplace and government, economic growth and environmental protection?

The competition is open to Maine high school seniors. Entries are due by April 1. Results will be announced on May 2. The library will award the following prizes to the top eight essays: $500 for first place, $250 for second place, $125 for third place, as well as five $25 honorable mention prizes. To submit entries or for more information about the contest, contact David Richards at the Margaret Chase Smith Library, 56 Norridgewock Ave., Skowhegan, ME, 04976, or by telephone at 474-7133.