They’re being reported on the online eBird database this winter across the northern third of the Lower 48 states, including Maine. The Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story ITHACA, N.Y. — Last winter brought an unprecedented number of snowy owl sightings in the northern United States, and this winter is turning out to be 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!
In the Katahdin Area, A National Park Can Transform a Region We Take for Granted
By Robert Lilieholm, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed As a forester, economist and researcher, I have spent 30 years of my professional life working with landowners, communities, students and businesses seeking to leverage their financial, natural and cultural resources to create a better future. Given that background, since moving to Maine with 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
Toxin Ruling Should Put Maine Kids’ Interests First
Mandating disclosure of phthalates would help consumers make safer choices for their families. Portland Press Herald editorial In about two weeks, Maine environmental regulators will have to decide whether they’ll require manufacturers to disclose which of their products contain phthalates: chemicals linked to serious health problems in kids that are in everything from lunch boxes and Read More
Draft Rule to Protect Mainers from Phthalates Weakened by State DEP
The regulation now would apply only to products targeted to kids under 12 and not to pregnant women, sparking an outcry from advocates of chemical safeguards. By Colin Woodard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Gov. Paul LePage’s administration has endorsed a substantially weakened draft of a rule requiring manufacturers to reveal which products 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
Maine Wind Industry Boasts 1,560 Jobs, $532 Million in Spending
The industry report comes at a time of political uncertainty over a key federal tax credit and energy policy in the Legislature. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Read the wind energy report Wind power companies have spent more than $532 million on projects in Maine over the past eight years Read More