AUGUSTA, MAINE – Today Maine launched the first manufacturer-funded program in the nation designed to capture hazardous electronic waste for safe disposal and recycling. Under the law enacted in 2004, beginning January 18, municipalities will send waste computer and television monitors to consolidation centers that are fully-funded by manufacturers. The manufacturers also pay to safely 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!
Ex-DEP Chief, Legislator Discussed “Trade”
By John Richardson, Portland Press Herald Writer Portland Press Herald news story Maine’s former environmental commissioner put a hold on a violation notice against a Jay paper mill to try to win support from a legislator who also works as the mill’s environmental manager, according to internal state records. Documents released this week, including memos Read More
Recycling Mercury Thermostats Urged
by the Associated Press Portland Press Herald Mainers are being urged to recycle old thermostats that contain mercury now that a new law outlawing sales of the thermostats has gone into effect. The Natural Resources Council of Maine held a press conference Tuesday at a hardware store to demonstrate the use of digital, nonmercury thermostats Read More
Mercury Thermostat Sales Ban Started on January 1st
But 5,600 Pounds of Mercury Still on Walls of Maine Homes, Businesses News release Today, the Natural Resources Council of Maine hosted a news conference at the Maine Hardware Store in Portland to inform Maine people about the new mercury thermostat sales ban that went into effect January 1, 2006, and to highlight the need Read More
DEP Found in Violation of State Law
AG: Documents withheld in Androscoggin cleanup Bangor Daily News news story An investigation by Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe’s office has found that Department of Environmental Protection staffers violated the state’s public records law by not making available documents from private meetings with paper company officials. In response, Gov. John Baldacci announced Friday that workers Read More
NRCM Cites Political Interference with Hazardous Waste Program
Enforcement Action Against International Paper Inexplicably Dropped NRCM news release The Natural Resources Council of Maine today announced the results of an investigation of a proposed reorganization of the Bureau of Remediation and Hazardous Waste at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The investigation found evidence that two Maine State legislators may have exerted Read More
What is Right for the River is Right for Maine
By Neil Ward, founding member of the Androscoggin River Alliance Lewiston Sun Journal DEP’s course correction holds hope for unleashing the true potential of the Androscoggin River. I applaud the recent move by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to revisit the International Paper discharge license issued last September. New pollution monitoring data from IP Read More
NRCM Response to the Citizen Solutions released by the Moosehead Region Future Committee
NRCM Statement NRCM supports the Moosehead Region Futures Committee statement that “Permanent conservation and sustainable community development are the bedrock foundations of the Moosehead Region’s future health and vitality.” NRCM supports this effort by residents of the Moosehead region to secure permanent conservation and sustainable development that is appropriately located and meshes with the character Read More
Plum Creek Needs to Start Over Again
MAINE VOICES: Robert Kimber Portland Press Herald The scoping sessions that Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission held this past August on Plum Creek’s development plan for the Moosehead Lake region yielded some surprises. The session in Hallowell was an exception, yielding no surprises at all. About 75 percent of the folks who spoke at that Read More