By Doug Struck, Contributor Christian Science Monitor cover story BENTON FALLS, Maine — “Look underneath you,” commands Nate Gray, a burly biologist for the state of Maine. He reaches down to the grate floor of a steel cage perched on a dam straddling the Sebasticook River, and pulls back a board revealing the roiling river 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!
Public Input Enhanced in Maine’s New Dam Law
Legislation to give sportsmen and waterfront property owners a greater say in relicensing passes in response to DEP having missed deadlines in 2013. By Dennis Hoey, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A new law that takes effect Friday will ensure increased public input, greater legislative oversight and more transparency whenever a dam has Read More
Bowdoin Biologist Investigates Tadpole Die-off
Nat Wheelwright says 200,000 died in less than a day last year. ‘It was like a nuclear bomb went off.’ by Chelsea Diana, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story More than 200,000 wood frog tadpoles died within 21 hours last year at a pond in Nat Wheelwright’s backyard in Brunswick, in what may be Read More
South Portland Girds for Legal Battle, Praised for Precedent on Its Tar Sands Ban
Conservation groups and other areas celebrate the city’s stand against the heavy crude, as opponents map out strategies for overturning the new regulation. By Leslie Bridgers, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story South Portland officials are preparing for a legal battle with members of the oil industry over a City Council vote Monday to Read More
Maine Conservation Groups Gather with South Portland Residents to Celebrate and React to Tar Sands Vote
Read more about tar sands in South Portland Read public comments by NRCM’s Lisa Pohlmann at final South Portland City Council vote News Release Portland—In a historic vote, the South Portland City Council last night voted 6-1 to pass the Clear Skies Ordinance to protect the city from a tar sands crude oil terminal. The Read More
NRCM Deeply Disappointed in BEP Vote on Thomaston Cement Plant
Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Project Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine NRCM news release NRCM is deeply disappointed in today’s Board of Environmental Protection vote, which would allow the Dragon Cement Company in Thomaston to increase its emissions of toxic mercury by 70%, reversing nearly two decades of work by Maine to reduce Read More
Grand Lake Stream Guides Association Should Help Restore Access of Native Fish to St. Croix River
Anadromous fish such as alewives were native to the river before dams were built, two studies show. By Clinton B. Townsend Portland Press Herald op-ed J.R. Mabee, of the Grand Lake Stream Guides Association, once again raised the hoary and incorrect assertion that alewives were not historically present in the upper St. Croix River basin, Read More
Report: Offshore Wind Power Within Reach for Maine
State Leadership Needed to Benefit Ratepayers, Create Jobs, Cut Pollution News Release by the Natural Resources Council of Maine, National Wildlife Federation, and Environment Maine July 10, 2014 Augusta, ME – More than 1.5 million acres off the Atlantic coast have been designated for offshore wind power development, enough to produce more than 16,000 megawatts Read More
Birding on Proposed National Park Land
by Jeff and Allison Wells Boothbay Register column Over the weekend we had the opportunity to lead a birding expedition to an area north of Millinocket known by many as the proposed national park lands. It was exciting to be birding an area that currently little known by birders — we felt like birding pioneers! Read More
