News Release Portland, Maine – Today, a broad-based group of business, health, and conservation organizations and individuals announced their opposition to the confirmation of Donald Trump’s nominee for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt. The group sent a letter today to Senator Susan Collins, urging her to vote against 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 Sen. Angus King Says He’ll Vote Against Pruitt Nomination
Independent Maine Sen. Angus King says he will vote against President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
An EPA Administrator is Needed Who Will Help, Not Hurt Maine’s Environment
Donald Trump’s pick for EPA chief is bad for our state, its farms, fishing, wildlife and people. by Ralph Tucker, Special to the Press Herald Portland Press Herald op-ed About the Author Rep. Ralph Tucker, D-Brunswick, is co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. This holiday season, our Christmas tree farms were Read More
Statement by NRCM Opposing Trump EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt
Statement by NRCM CEO Lisa Pohlmann Today, The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is considering Donald Trump’s nomination of Scott Pruitt to lead the nation’s top environmental and public health watchdog: the Environmental Protection Agency. You could not find a more unsuitable candidate to lead the EPA than Pruitt. He has proven himself Read More
Critics Blast Offshore Oil Drilling Plan for East Coast
Business and petroleum groups say they want to explore for more oil and gas to stabilize prices. By Wayne Parry, The Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Environmentalists say allowing offshore drilling along the U.S. East Coast from northern Virginia to the Georgia-Florida border could lead to a catastrophic oil Read More
Nearly 250 Maine Businesses Urge Collins, King to Support National Power Plant Pollution Standards as Strong as New England’s
Say action on climate change pollution is important for Maine’s identity, culture. NRCM news release Today, business leaders gathered at the iconic Porthole Restaurant on Portland Harbor to release a letter to Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King urging their support for proposed national standards on power plant carbon pollution that are as strong Read More
Federal Court Strikes Down EPA’s Biomass Pollution Loophole
EcoWatch news story On Friday, a key federal court ruling confirmed that Clean Air Act limits on carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution apply to industrial facilities that burn biomass, including tree-burning power plants. The court vacated an exemption that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had carved out for “biogenic carbon dioxide.” The decision, by a Read More
Maine Leaders Hold News Conference In Support of President Obama’s New Carbon Pollution Standard
Press Release Today, a group of Maine leaders held a news conference at Portland City Hall to explain their support for the federal clean air and climate change safeguards announced yesterday by President Obama. Yesterday Obama unveiled a significant new plan that would help America do its part to tackle climate change, spur economic opportunities, Read More
NRCM’s Response to President Obama’s Climate Action Plan
NRCM press release Yesterday, President Obama announced a major climate change action plan that will help Maine and all Americans tackle the gravest environmental threat of our time, plus spur economic opportunities, and protect our health. We are pleased that the President has listened to the American people and shown his leadership and determination to Read More