The now-undammed Penobscot River has brought bounty to my backyard. by Robert Klose Christian Science Monitor news story MAY 3, 2017 —Until recently, my home was snuggled neatly between two dams along the banks of the Penobscot River here in central Maine. The behavior of the river was therefore a function of the human forces Read More
Waters
Clean, healthy waterways are vital to our day-to-day lives. They help ensure safe drinking water, suitable habitat for fish and other wildlife, and recreational opportunities that make Maine a special place to live, work, and visit. NRCM has been working on clean water issues since we were founded in 1959 to protect the Allagash.
NRCM continues to advocate for clean and healthy waters across Maine. Read more news & blogs about our work to protect Maine's beautiful rivers, lakes, and streams.
LD 1350, Amend Law Regarding Recreational Gold Prospecting
Senator Saviello, Representative Tucker, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee: My name is Nick Bennett, and I am the staff scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, which is Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group with over 20,000 members and supporters. I am testifying in opposition to LD 1350. Motorized gold dredging Read More
Lawmakers Back Bill to Overhaul Maine’s Mining Regulations
The long-sought compromise, which has the support of several major environmental organizations, would ban open-pit mines and prohibit mining on state-owned public lands and under lakes. by Kevin Miller, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A legislative committee gave near-unanimous support Wednesday to a proposed overhaul of Maine’s mining regulations that has Read More
Mining Bill Clears Major Hurdle, Divides Environmental Activists
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
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
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
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
LD 400, Construction/Placement of Decks within Shoreland Zone
Senator Saviello, Representative Tucker and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. My name is Nick Bennett, I am the staff Scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and I reside in Hallowell. I am testifying in opposition to LD 400 on behalf of NRCM and its 20,000 members and supporters. Maine’s Read More
The Woods and Waters are What Make Maine Great. It’s Our Duty to Conserve Them.
By John Tjepkema Bangor Daily News op-ed As we celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, Mainers should be proud of our accomplishments since its first observance in 1970. U.S. Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine was a driving force behind the 1970 Clean Air Act and the 1972 Clean Water Act. Since that time, a wide range Read More
