News Release Brewer, Maine — The White House this week released a budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018 that would slash Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs that reduce pollution in Maine, save the lives of Maine people, and strengthen our communities and economy. The proposal singles out EPA for the deepest cuts of any federal Read More
Federal Issues
Our advocates, members, supporters, and partners work to defend our hard-earned environmental safeguards and to ensure Maine’s elected officials in Washington, DC, stand up for Maine’s environment. Decisions made there have lasting effects on Maine’s clean water, fresh air, healthy forests, thriving wildlife, and on the health of Maine people, our economy, and our way of life.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine identifies and addresses the issues at play in our nation’s capital that have the largest impacts here at home.
Find out the latest on federal issues affecting our state's land, air, water, and wildlife.
Maine Environmental Advocates Warn of “Crippling” Cuts in Trump Budget
One describes the range of cuts as a ‘full-on attack’ on a natural resource-dependent state. by Colin Woodard, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story President Donald Trump has not backed off on a wide range of federal budget cuts and program eliminations that critics have for months warned would devastate Maine’s economy and environment. Read More
NRCM Public Comments on Department of Interior Review of National Monuments
Monument Review, MS-1530 U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Submitted to the public record on May 23, 2017 The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) is a statewide, member-supported conservation organization established in 1959 and located in Augusta, Maine. We have 20,000 members and supporters located in all sixteen Read More
LePage Refuses to Put Up Road Signs for North Woods National Monument
By Nick Sambides Jr., BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Gov. Paul LePage is refusing to put signs along state roads showing the way to Maine’s national monument, pending the outcome of a federal review, state officials said Friday. The governor won’t allow official signs for Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument to be Read More
“Spiteful and Petty”: Maine Governor Bans Signs to Obama-designated Monument
As Trump administration reviews 27 national monuments, conservationists fear a federally mandated effort to strip public lands of environmental protections by Edward Helmore The Guardian news story A decision by the Republican governor of Maine, Paul LePage, to ban signs to Katahdin Woods and Waters, a national monument designated by Barack Obama, has been described Read More
‘Everything Changed’ — Millinocket-Area Businesses Tout Benefits of National Monument
By A.J. Higgins Maine Public news story The Trump administration has vowed to review some of the national monument designations carried out in the Obama years, which could include Maine’s Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Gov. Paul LePage says the monument, and its potential to become a national park, pose a real threat to Read More
Trump’s Fight against Environmental Protection is a Threat to Maine’s Economy and Health
By Sharon S. Tisher and Harold W. Borns Jr., Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Last month, the planet passed an unfortunate milestone. The Mauna Loa Observatory recorded for the first time a reading of more than 410 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide hasn’t been at this Read More
Katahdin Woods Monument’s Former Opponents Want Trump, LePage to Back Off
Some believe the federal review ordered by President Trump could have a negative effect on the area’s economy. by David Sharp, Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story Several former opponents of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument are now asking President Trump and Gov. Paul LePage to let it be. The national monument Read More
Business and Community Leaders Line Up in Opposition to Efforts to Overturn Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
News Release Bangor, ME – Maine business, community, and political leaders gathered today in Bangor to voice their opposition to efforts to overturn the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The group released letters to Maine’s Congressional delegation, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, and Governor Paul LePage strongly defending the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Read More
