NWF/NRCM news release March 13, 2014 – According to the company that owns it, the 64-year-old pipeline that currently transports crude oil from Portland, Maine, to Montreal has already passed its projected retirement date, documents recently discovered by the National Wildlife Federation show. The Exxon-owned Portland Pipe Line Corporation (PPLC) seeks to reverse the aging 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!
Proposed Mining Rules are a Bad Deal for Maine Environment, Taxpayers
by Rep. Jeff McCabe & Rep. Larry Dunphy Kennebec Journal op-ed On Jan. 10, the Board of Environmental Protection passed mining rules that will not protect Maine’s environment or taxpayers. People in support of stronger rules outnumbered those supporting these weak rules by more than 100 to 1. The BEP, however, largely ignored this testimony Read More
Ski Professionals, Climate Scientists, Conservationists Warn of Climate Change Harming Maine Winter Sports Industries
Call on Maine Delegation to Support EPA Carbon Pollution Standards News release Portland, ME – Today, professional winter sports athletes, business leaders, and climate scientists held a press conference highlighting the significant threat of climate change on skiing, riding, and other winter sports, and the importance of finding solutions to address climate change before these Read More
Canadian Government’s Pipeline Ruling ‘Brings Tar Sands Oil to New England’s Doorstep,’ Environmentalists Say
By Seth Koenig, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story PORTLAND, Maine — State environmental groups decried a decision by the Canadian government late Thursday afternoon to allow the reversal and expansion of a pipeline leading to east Montreal, where they say controversial tar sands oil can now be pumped almost to the New England Read More
Legislative Committee Endorses Bill Designed to Protect Water Quality in Maine Lakes
by Scott Thistle Sun Journal news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Most of Maine’s lakes are still covered with ice, but on Thursday, the Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee approved a bill that aims to further protect water quality for 3,000 of the state’s largest lakes. Among other things, the bill, LD 1744, authored by Read More
Legislative Committee Endorses Do-over of Large-scale Mining Rules in Maine
By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — The Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources committee on Thursday rejected metallic mineral mining rules that have been under development for more than a year. The committee endorsed a resolve, LD 1772, that essentially sends the rules back to the Department of Environmental Read More
Canadian Pipeline Decision Raises Tar Sands Fears in Maine
by Tom Porter MPBN news story Environmental advocates are concerned that a decision this afternoon by Canadian Energy Regulators will pave the way for the arrival in Maine of so-called tar sands oil from Alberta – an energy source which they describe as much more toxic than conventional crude. The decision by Canada’s National Energy Read More
Legislative Committee Rejects New Maine Mining Rules
Democrats, environmental groups applaud vote, citing pollution concerns. By Steve Mistler, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA – Democrats on the Legislature’s Natural Resources and Environmental Committee on Thursday rejected rules designed to revitalize metal and mineral mining in Maine, but fiercely opposed by environmental groups that feared its ecological impacts. In a vote of Read More
Pipeline Approved to Bring Tar Sands to Montreal and New England’s Doorstep
News release Mainers react with increased concern, renewed call for federal environmental review Today the National Energy Board of Canada gave approval to a proposal by pipeline giant Enbridge to reverse and increase the flow of crude oil, including tar sands oil, in its pipeline from Sarnia, Ontario to Montreal, Quebec—for the first time directly Read More