News release March 19, 2025 (Brewer, ME) ━ One by one, a diverse group of Mainers including a fired federal worker, business and fishing groups, a veteran, and a SNAP participant spoke about the real-world harm that has been inflicted by the chaotic decision-making of the Trump Administration. Ocean Crawford, a mother of three from Read More
Maine Environmental News
Maine environmental news often comes quickly and with little warning. Stay up to date on Maine environment news.
From issues such as climate change, healthy waters, Maine forests and wildlife, and sustainability—and environmental policy that could impact them—you’ll find NRCM’s up-to-the-minute news releases to see our perspective on the most pressing issues facing Maine’s land, air, waters, and wildlife. This includes findings relating to our role as Maine’s watchdog of activities of state environmental agencies—we stand ready to blow the whistle when regulations are not enforced.
You can also find our news “round up,” News & Noteworthy, which puts the spotlight on media stories that do a particularly good job capturing current news about Maine's environment. We hope you find this part of our website helpful and informative!
Massive EPA Proposal to Weaken Environmental Protections Would Harm Maine’s Clean Air and Water
March 13, 2025 (Augusta, ME) — Yesterday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin released a massive, broadside attack on rules that protect public health, the climate, and our environment from air pollution, water pollution, and toxic emissions from fossil fuel power plants. On the eve of addressing a major energy conference in Read More
Flawed EIS for Kennebec Dams Ignores Calls for a Collaborative Recovery Solution
March 5, 2025 (Augusta, ME) — A final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) issued for four dams on Maine’s lower Kennebec River ignores the best available science and could doom endangered Atlantic salmon to extinction while harming recovery of other sea-run fish, according to a coalition of local residents, conservation organizations, and fishing groups, together with Read More
News & Noteworthy — January-March, 2025
Here are some media stories featuring NRCM’s policy experts and our work to protect Maine’s air, land, water, and wildlife, from January-March 2025. February 2025 The last week of February was a busy one for our staff who testified at public hearings on several legislative bills from Net Energy Billing to modernizing subdivision laws and Read More
New Report: Federal Climate Programs Spur $2.2B in Investment in Maine
February 3, 2025 (Augusta, ME) – The past few years have seen Maine families, local businesses, and Wabanaki Nations benefit from at least $2.2 billion in direct and induced investments in clean technology thanks to federal funding provided by Congress, according to a new analysis issued today. For the first time, the report quantifies the Read More
News & Noteworthy—October – December 2024
December 2024 NRCM Sustainable Maine Program Manager Vanessa Berry is quoted in this Portland Press Herald article about the Board of Environmental Protection voting in support of Maine’s new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging rules. The bill to create Maine’s first-in-the-nation EPR for Packaging law, out of which these rules came, was signed into law Read More
Congress Approves Bill to Expand Outdoor Equity
Today, the U.S. Senate approved the bipartisan Outdoors for All Act sponsored by Senator Susan Collins. The exciting investment in the nation’s outdoor spaces now heads to President Biden to be signed into law. The Natural Resources Council of Maine issued the following statement from Federal Policy Advocate Anya Fetcher: “Access to the outdoors and Read More
Maine Finalizes Nation-Leading EPR for Packaging Program
December 5, 2024 (Augusta, ME) – The Maine Board of Environmental Protection today finalized rules for a first-in-the-nation Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging law that will save taxpayers money and improve recycling by holding corporations accountable for the wasteful packaging they produce. “Today’s vote is great news for Maine taxpayers and our environment,” said Read More
NRCM Urges Senators Collins, King Not to Undermine Senate Confirmation Process for Nominees
November 25, 2024 (Augusta, ME) — Maine’s leading environmental advocacy organization today urged Senators Susan Collins and Angus King to insist that the full, deliberative “advice and consent” process be pursued in the U.S. Senate for nominees to federal agencies that play a critical role in helping protect Maine’s environment. The Natural Resources Council of Read More
