I own Mook Sea Farm, an oyster farm on the Damariscotta River, founded in 1985. We raise oysters from egg to market size and also sell seed oysters to other East Coast growers. Last month I made a whirlwind trip to Washington, DC on behalf of my company, Mook Sea Farm, to oppose the nomination 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.
Trump’s Proposed EPA Cuts Would Damage Maine’s Environment and Economy, Critics Fear
Sen. King calls the cuts ‘deeply troubling’ while Rep. Pingree says they’ll hurt Maine business. by Colin Woodard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The Trump administration’s proposal to impose deep cuts on the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget is raising fears that it would devastate Maine’s environment and undermine its economy. The preliminary White Read More
Pruitt Ignoring Science Consensus Could Have Dire Consequences for Maine
Trying to argue that carbon dioxide is not the cause of global warming puts the state at risk. by Bill Mook, owner of Mook Sea Farm in Walpole Portland Press Herald op-ed WALPOLE — I spent Valentine’s Day making a whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C., on behalf of my company, Mook Sea Farm, an oyster Read More
If America’s Public Lands Were a Business, the GOP Would be Bungling the Balance Sheet
by Yvon Chouinard Bangor Daily News reprint of LA Times op-ed American politicians have always been obsessed with running government “like a business.” They promise to make bureaucracies leaner and let the free market fix all our problems. Well, if America’s public lands were a business, shareholders would be shocked by the gross negligence of Read More
Trump’s Proposed NOAA Cuts Imperil Wells Reserve in Maine
The president wants to end the funding that covers 70% of the operating costs for the wildlife sites used by the public, researchers and educators. By Colin Woodard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The Wells Reserve at Laudholm could become a casualty of a Trump administration plan to slash the budget of the Read More
Here’s How EPA Cuts, Policy Changes Could Affect Maine
By Bill Trotter, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story President Donald Trump’s plans to shrink and redirect the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could have a severe impact on Maine where, according to one environmental advocacy official, state environmental programs already have been “cut down to the bone.” The Washington Post reported Wednesday that a Read More
NRCM “Deeply Dismayed” by Senate Vote Confirming Pruitt to Head EPA
Statement of Lisa Pohlmann, Executive Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine We are deeply dismayed that the U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. This is bad news for Maine, because we depend on clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment as a foundation of our Read More
Collins Says She’ll Vote Against Confirming Scott Pruitt to Head EPA
Maine’s Republican senator cites the Oklahoma attorney general’s lawsuits against the environmental agency on ‘numerous issues that are of great importance to the state of Maine.’ by Dennis Hoey, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, breaking with her party again, said Wednesday that she will vote against confirming Read More
EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt Does Not Reflect Maine Values on the Environment
Sen. Susan Collins should join Sen. Angus King in pledging to reject Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. By Bill Houston Portland Press Herald op-ed KINGFIELD — Mainers hold clean air and water near and dear to their hearts. As a lifelong Mainer who trains young men and women to become outdoor leaders, I Read More
