NRCM news release April 16, 2019 (Augusta, ME) – With final action today, the Maine Legislature has unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution calling on the President to direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to drop its planned rollbacks of mercury pollution protections. EPA has proposed scaling back the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), Read More
Senator Susan Collins
Support of LD 955, An Act to Prohibit Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Drilling and Exploration
Senator Carson, Representative Tucker, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. My name is Kristin Jackson. I am an outreach coordinator for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and I appreciate this opportunity to testify in support of LD 955, which would prohibit offshore oil and natural gas drilling and Read More
Conservation is a Maine Value Our Lawmakers Must Uphold
By Jeremy Sheaffer, Maine state director of The Wilderness Society in Hallowell Bangor Daily News op-ed Mainers take pride in our wild forests, rivers and shorelines that support our outdoor traditions and our growing recreation economy. Increasingly, voters in Maine measure the merits of political candidates by the strength of their commitment to conservation, as Read More
NRCM Disappointed by Confirmation of Former Coal Lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to Head the EPA
Augusta – In response to a vote in the U.S. Senate to confirm former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as the next Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Natural Resources Council of Maine issued the following statement from Federal Project Director Emmie Theberge: “We are extremely disappointed with this decision by the U.S. Read More
Public Lands Bill an Encouraging Sign from Congress
Bangor Daily News editorial Less than a month after America’s longest government shutdown, the US Senate offered a glimmer of bipartisan hope in the form of a significant public lands package that passed with overwhelming support on both sides of the aisle. The broad legislation — which would protect millions of acres around the country Read More
Following Advocacy from Senators Collins and King, Senate Votes to Permanently Reauthorize LWCF
LWCF has conserved land and created outdoor recreation opportunities across the country. News release from Senators Collins and King Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate approved a permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as part of a public lands legislative package. The legislation passed by a vote of 92-8 will Read More
Former Coal Lobbyist Andrew Wheeler Poised to Take Over EPA
Nomination “a grave threat to the health of Maine’s people and environment” NRCM Statement Augusta – In response to an expected vote on Tuesday at the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to advance the nomination of former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as the next administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Read More
Acting EPA Administrator Puts Mainers’ Health at Risk
Sen. Collins should protect her constituents and vote against Andrew Wheeler’s confirmation as permanent agency chief. by Tony Owens of Cape Elizabeth, an emergency room doctor at Maine Medical Center Portland Press Herald op-ed CAPE ELIZABETH — Throughout my career, I have focused on ensuring that families and children, both here in Maine and across Read More
Collins Reintroduces Bill that Would Track Mercury Pollution
By Patty Wight Maine Public news story Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is reintroducing a bill that would track mercury pollution to better protect human health and fisheries. The American Lung Association supports the bill. The vice-chair of the Maine chapter, Dr. Marguerite Pennoyer, says better monitoring is important, paired with federal efforts Read More