By Anthony Brino, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story A mining reform bill backed by the Natural Resources Council of Maine received the greenlight from a key committee Wednesday, but the action also opened up a rift among environmental advocates, with some arguing that the state should ban large-scale metal mining outright. The Maine 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!
Environmentalists Vow to Fight Trump on Maine Monument
By David Abel, staff writer Boston Globe news story President Trump on Wednesday will issue a sweeping executive order to review as many as 40 national monument designations made by his three predecessors, an unprecedented move that could curtail or rescind their protected status. It was unclear which areas would come under review, but the Read More
Open Pits, Water Contamination Banned in New Protections Added to Mining Bill
By Anthony Brino, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story A key legislative committee this week could advance a mining bill backed by the Natural Resources Council of Maine that would ban large open pit metal mines and impoundments of mine waste. Members of the state Legislature’s Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee spent three Read More
The Nuisance of “Nips”
by Edgar Allen Beem The Forecaster column When I drove into the drug store parking lot the other day I found myself parked in a litter of little plastic liquor bottles. I mentioned this to an employee who told me they had someone who picked up the empty “nips” once or twice a day, but Read More
LePage Says He’ll Testify against Katahdin-area National Monument as Trump Plans Review
The governor says he’d like to see the Obama designation reversed, and if it’s not, he’ll urge Congress to change the law so state and local approvals are needed. by Scott Thistle, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — With President Trump poised to order a review of the past 20 years of national Read More
Maine’s Heritage is Its Water. Metal Mining Threatens This Valuable Resource.
By Samantha Paradis, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed On a spring day, my dad and I left Frenchville bright and early to travel to Allagash to brook fish. During the drive, I admired the beauty of the St. John River Valley as I waited to reach our favorite brook along the Allagash Read More
March for Science Draws Hundreds Across Maine
By Dawn Gagnon, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story ORONO, Maine — A local version of the worldwide March for Science drew hundreds of scientists and those who support their work to the University of Maine campus on Saturday. Similar protests took place in Portland, Machias and Sanford, which were among the 600 communities Read More
EPA Cuts Could Mean Trouble for Maine
WGME news story Watch full news video. PORTLAND (WGME) — The Trump administration is proposing deep cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, and if those cuts are approved, some say it could mean trouble for Maine. A new report released Thursday by the Natural Resources Council of Maine says the president’s 2018 budget singles out Read More
New Report: Proposed EPA Cuts Put State’s Environment At Risk
by Susan Sharon Maine Public news story A new report from the Natural Resources Council of Maine paints a bleak picture of what could happen in Maine if the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency are adopted. The proposal calls for cutting the agency’s budget 31 percent, slashing 3,200 jobs and eliminating Read More