by Bonnie Washuk, Staff Writer Sun Journal news story LEWISTON — On a recent August afternoon, outdoorswoman and Bates College retiree Judith Marden was on the Androscoggin River, in Gulf Island Pond, learning to paddleboard. “I’m not very good at it,” the 69-year-old said with a laugh. The first time Marden tried “I fell off Read More
Department of Environmental Protection
Public Input Enhanced in Maine’s New Dam Law
Legislation to give sportsmen and waterfront property owners a greater say in relicensing passes in response to DEP having missed deadlines in 2013. By Dennis Hoey, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A new law that takes effect Friday will ensure increased public input, greater legislative oversight and more transparency whenever a dam has Read More
NRCM Deeply Disappointed in BEP Vote on Thomaston Cement Plant
Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Project Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine NRCM news release NRCM is deeply disappointed in today’s Board of Environmental Protection vote, which would allow the Dragon Cement Company in Thomaston to increase its emissions of toxic mercury by 70%, reversing nearly two decades of work by Maine to reduce Read More
Comments on DEP Application for a Determination of Public Benefit For a Landfill to be Located in Argyle Township or Greenbush
I am submitting these comments on behalf of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, which has a strong interest in Maine’s Solid Waste Management Policy. In that context, we believe that this proposal comes at a time when DEP’s decision will determine the direction and tone of our State’s Materials Management efforts moving forward.¹ We Read More
Preserve Maine’s Role in Protecting Our Kids from Toxic Chemicals
By Janet Mills, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Ever wonder what’s in that baby bottle your infant uses? The teether she chews on? The toys your kids climb on and fall on, and the ones they put in their mouths? More and more families are concerned about health and safety as kids’ Read More
Concern for Maine’s Lakes: An Afternoon on Belgrade’s Great Pond
As Susan MacKenzie wrote about in her recent post, on June 10, a group of NRCM Board members and staff joined Professor Whitney King of Colby College to learn about the waters of Great Pond in Belgrade. Whitney gave quite an eye-opening presentation as he shared some of the startling research data currently being collected Read More
Maine’s LakeSmart Program: Good for You, Good for Maine’s Lakes
On June 10 several NRCM Board and staff members spent a delightful couple of hours with Dr. Whitney King, the Dr. Frank and Theodora Miselis Professor of Chemistry at Colby College and a member of the Maine Lake Resource Center Board of Directors. Following a brief introduction to the ecological and social history of the Read More
Legislature Rejects Weak Mining Rules; Sends Bill to Governor
Statement of Nick Bennett, NRCM Staff Scientist “The Maine House and Senate have given final approval to LD 1772, a resolve rejecting the weak metal mining rules from the Board of Environmental Protection (BEP). The Natural Resources Council of Maine appreciates the work of legislators in both houses to defeat these weak rules that would have Read More
Maine Senate Joins House in Rejecting Large-scale Mining Rules
By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Senate on Wednesday affirmed a vote earlier this week in the House of Representatives that will force the Department of Environmental Protection to restart the process of implementing new large-scale mining rules. The rules were developed after the passage of Read More
