Our precious commodity of pristine forest is for everyone’s benefit. By Ken Allen Portland Press Herald op-ed In my early 20s, I spent two glorious summers camping near Ripogenus Dam on the Penobscot River’s West Branch, which included huge woodlands, myriad waters and Baxter State Park for recreation. Back then, the West Branch enjoyed a 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!
Politics, Preservation, and Salmon Fishing
An annual rite of the Penobscot River sporting world brought a Maine angler and the year’s first Atlantic salmon to the president’s doorstep. By Catherine Schmitt Boston Globe news story ON MAY 25, 1992, Claude and Rosemae Westfall drove their Buick south on Maine’s I-95. Claude was dressed sharply if atypically in a green suit Read More
Digging for Dollars: Proposed New Mining Rules Clear Committee
by Adrienne DiPiazza WABI-TV news story When many people think of mining in the state of Maine they remember environmental disasters of the past, before regulations were put in place. The initiative to bring mining back to Maine has not come without strong opposition from many lawmakers and environmental groups.. Thursday the Environmental and Natural Read More
Why Baxter State Park’s Former Director Backs National Park Plan
By Buzz Caverly, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Fifty-five years ago, as a young man shortly out of high school, I was hired as a Baxter State Park ranger and assigned to the Russell Pond campground in the heart of the Wassataquoik Valley, at the eastern edge of the park. For years, Read More
Here Comes the Sun, So Why Isn’t Maine Taking Advantage of Free Power?
Maine has 30 percent more sun than Germany, which gets 7 percent of its electricity from solar power. By George Smith Kennebec Journal column “Here comes the sun; here comes the sun; and I say it’s all right.” Well, maybe not. This Beatles song is right about the sun. It shines in Maine more than Read More
Mining Rules for Maine: Weeks of Negotiations Fail to Forge Consensus
By Mal Leary Maine Public news story AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine Lawmakers have worked for weeks on an effort to overhaul the state’s mining regulations. But it was mostly opponents that showed up at an unusual second public hearing on the same legislation. And it appears that the committee is still divided on the issue, Read More
Debate Heated as Panel Tries to Craft Compromise Mining Bill
The DEP praises tweaks to the agency’s original proposal, but critics suggest lawmakers are caving in to outside pressure. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — The heated public debate about mining in Maine resumed Monday as lawmakers attempt to craft a compromise on a bill that could open the Read More
Bill’s Supporters Push to Force LePage to Issue Land Conservation Bonds
Republican Sen. Roger Katz, who introduced the bill, says the Legislature will ‘set a terrible precedent’ if it lets the governor withhold the voter-approved bonds. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s hardball political tactics came under bipartisan criticism Monday from lawmakers who are considering a bill Read More
Critics Say LePage ‘Cherry-picking’ Land Conservation Deals
The $1.7 million federal grant he accepted is separate from voter-approved bonds, but some say he’s superseding a state board with 30 projects lined up. By Steve Mistler, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has accepted $1.7 million in federal funding for a 13,875-acre conservation project in Piscataquis County, Read More