by Susan Sharon MPBN news story Maine lawmakers are considering controversial new mining regulations that have been approved by the Board of Environmental Protection but face stiff opposition from the public and from a coalition of more than two dozen environmental groups. The rules were drafted by the LePage administration, which maintians that they are based Read More
State House Watch
Working for legislation to protect Maine’s environment is an essential part of NRCM’s mission for the people of Maine. During the legislative session, we are at the Maine State House, just a block from our office, to work for new safeguards and also to defend existing legislation that protects Maine’s land, air, water, and wildlife.
Maine Lakes at Risk: Experts Call for Action
NRCM news release Top lake protection experts today called on the Legislature to pass a bill (LD 1744) to protect the water quality in Maine’s 6,000 lakes. Representing communities and lake associations across the state, the experts expressed concerns about the slow decline in water quality they are currently seeing in Maine lakes. They warned Read More
Homeowners, and Business and Conservation Leaders, Call on Legislature to Pass Solar Legislation
Urge legislators to keep Maine from lagging on solar energy and jobs News release by Natural Resources Council of Maine and Maine Association of Building Professionals Augusta, ME—Dozens of Maine homeowners and small business owners assembled at the State House today to call on legislators to pass solar legislation this session that will lower barriers Read More
Metallic Mining Rules Endanger What’s Best about Maine — The Legislature Should Reject Them
By Susan Davies Bangor Daily News op-ed The new metallic mineral mining rule that Maine Board of Environmental Protection has just sent to the Legislature for approval makes me think of that line in the Joni Mitchell song: “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got till it’s gone?” I’m Read More
Solar Bill Fuels Debate on Maine’s Energy Future
by Alanna Durkin, Associated Press Boston Globe news story (AP) — A bill aimed at boosting solar energy development in Maine will strengthen the economy by creating jobs, protect the environment by reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and bring the state up to speed with the rest of New England in harnessing the sun’s Read More
LePage Criticized for Opting Maine Out of Anti-smog Effort
Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Environmental groups attacked Gov. Paul LePage on Monday for his refusal to sign a petition in favor of tough standards in nine states from which pollution affects air quality in Maine and other eastern states. Governors in eight northeastern and mid-Atlantic states — including every New England Read More
Eye on Augusta: Controversial New Rules Proposed for Metallic Mineral Mining in Maine
by Andy O’Brien Freepressonline.com news story One of the most contentious environmental battles that will be fought when the Legislature reconvenes in January will likely be over metallic mineral mining in Maine. In 2012, lobbyists representing the Canadian corporation J.D. Irving, Limited brought forward a bill to rewrite Maine’s mining standards to aid in the Read More
Majority of Comments Oppose New Maine Mining Rules
by Jen Lynds, staff writer Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Members of the Natural Resources Council of Maine say that citizens have stepped forward in force to oppose draft rules for mining in the state. The proposed regulations, which were introduced in August, have been the subject of controversy since last year Read More
Maine Board to Review Comments on Mining Rule Changes
As the BEP gets ready for its meeting, public response is running strongly against the proposed changes. by North Cairn, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story The state Board of Environmental Protection will meet Thursday to continue reviewing more than 1,000 pages of public comment against changes proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection Read More
