by Lance Tapley Portland Phoenix news story Maine’s cherished environment may be threatened as never before by the gargantuan forces of economic globalization. In reaction, the state’s environmental movement is coalescing into a force stronger than ever. There are new players in the game — including Occupy — augmenting the old guard. Not surprising for 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!
NRCM Scientist Nick Bennett Earns Bates Award for Environmental Stewardship
NRCM news release Nick Bennett, staff scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine for more than 16 years, has been awarded The Bates-Morse Mountain Award for Environmental Stewardship. This award goes to an individual or group demonstrating significant commitment to and achievement of environmental stewardship and will be presented at the Harward Center for Read More
Study: Exposure to Flame Retardant Chemicals Means Firefighters Face Higher Cancer Risk than Previously Thought
Mario Moretto, staff writer Bangor Daily News news story ELLSWORTH, Maine — New research by a Blue Hill scientist shows that during a fire, firefighters are exposed to dangerous levels of toxic, cancer-causing chemicals created when commercial flame retardants burn. That firefighters develop cancer at an alarming rate is not news to industry professionals or Read More
LePage Official Blasts Widely Supported Paint Bill
Colin Woodard, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA —The paint industry wants to recycle unused household paint in Maine, a program that environmentalists, municipalities and small retailers have supported, saying it will save taxpayers money while safeguarding the environment. But at a legislative hearing Thursday, the LePage administration surprised many by opposing L.D. Read More
Parents Should Demand Legislative Action on Healthy Kids Bill
Erica Lowell Portland Press Herald op-ed GRAY – We’ve all seen it. A simple trip to the grocery store will reveal at least a dozen different parenting styles. But one thing moms and dads can all agree on is that the products we bring into our homes should not contain dangerous chemicals. As a young Read More
When Talking Trash, We Should Put Disposal Programs in the Mix
Michael Boardman Portland Press Herald opinion piece PORTLAND – If there’s one topic that keeps popping up in the national news, it’s what to do with our trash. Americans produce more waste than any other country, more than half of which is residential garbage. Some of this garbage is in the form of household hazardous Read More
Leftover Paint Waste Target of Maine Bill
Maine Public news story More than 70 million gallons of discarded household paint wind up in the nation’s landfills each year, and untold gallons more remain stored away in attics, basements and garages in sticky, dented containers. About 10 percent of all paint sold is wasted, and many homeowners don’t know what to do with Read More
Feds: Many Causes for Dramatic Bee Disappearance
Associated Press AP news story WASHINGTON — A new federal report blames a combination of problems for a mysterious and dramatic disappearance of U.S. honeybees since 2006. The intertwined factors cited include a parasitic mite, multiple viruses, bacteria, poor nutrition, genetics, habitat loss and pesticides. The multiple causes make it harder to do something about Read More
Fishway to the Presumpscot Unveiled
Leslie Briders, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story WESTBROOK — The first of several fish passageways planned for the Presumpscot River officially opened Wednesday, just in time for alewives and other species to make migratory runs that could begin any day. Sappi Fine Paper was required by the state to build the fishway at Read More