By Susan Sharon MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine – In a decision that is being welcomed as “historic” by Maine Indian tribes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has asked the state of Maine to revise some water quality standards for tribal waters. The decision comes during ongoing litigation brought by the state against the EPA. 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!
Bill to Ban Microbeads in Maine Backed by Both Sides
In a rare alignment, manufacturers and environmentalists join to help the measure sail easily through committee. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A bill that would ban soaps, shampoos and other consumer products containing tiny plastic “microbeads” in Maine sailed through a legislative committee Wednesday after manufacturers and environmentalists made a Read More
Irving Submits Plan to Develop, Preserve 51,000 Acres Around Northern Maine Lakes
By Julia Bayly, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story FORT KENT, Maine — State officials and the public got their first look at what Canadian-based J.D. Irving has in store for its 51,000 acres around the Fish River chain of lakes in northern Maine after the company filed its concept plan late last month. Read More
Irving Unveils Plan for 51K Acres of Maine Forest Land
By Ed Morin Maine Public news story Canada-based J.D. Irving has submitted a concept plan to state regulators with ideas about how the company wants to use 51,000 acres of forest land and lakes it owns in northern Aroostook County. Anthony Hourihan, Irving’s director of land development, says the goal of the plan is to Read More
Consultant’s Millinocket Report Seen to Have Little Effect on Katahdin Region National Park Efforts
By Nick Sambides Jr., BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story MILLINOCKET, Maine — Despite endorsing efforts to promote tourism around public lands, the blunt report from a Virginia economic development firm for Millinocket was silent on the largest possible project in line with that strategy: a North Woods national park. The leading advocate for Read More
North American Sightings of Elusive Snowy Owls Take Flight
By Barbara Goldberg, Reuters Bangor Daily News news story NEW YORK — The elusive snowy owl, rarely seen outside the Arctic, is turning up more frequently in the skies of North America than it does in the pages of a Harry Potter book, data from the National Audubon Society suggested on Wednesday. Sightings of the Read More
Land Deal Protects Nearly 5,800 Acres in Franklin County
The deal, which was finalized recently between The Trust for Public Land and Linkletter Timberlands, provides public access for recreation – including on two ITS snowmobile trails – while maintaining the land as a working forest. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A conservation group has finalized a land deal to Read More
Land Conservation Group Protects Forested Property in Franklin County for Jobs, Recreation
Bangor Daily News news story MADRID TOWNSHIP, Maine — A 5,774-acre forested property in Franklin County has been permanently protected through The Trust for Public Land, a national land conservation group with one of its 30 offices located in Portland. “Keeping forests as forests benefits all of us by safeguarding recreation and access important to Read More
A National Park Would Permanently Protect an Area Sacred to the Penobscot Nation
By Kirk Francis, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News news story The Penobscot River is the heart of the cultural identity of the Penobscot Nation. We have been the caretakers of this great watershed since time immemorial, and we consider that responsibility to be a very serious priority for our tribe. The people of Read More
