The bill calls for a new set of regulations, which are likely to be less friendly to open-pit mining of minerals at Bald Mountain. By Eric Russell, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The Maine House of Representatives passed a bill Monday that would throw out proposed mining rules drafted after a legislative vote 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.
History Shows Mining’s Consequences: Rules to Protect Maine’s Environment are Insufficient
By Fred Kircheis, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed I have observed mines and mining operations on three continents and in many countries. What too many have in common are the contaminated waters, decimated fish populations, polluted air and destroyed landscapes left behind. Those consequences elsewhere — and in Maine — should be Read More
After Missed Deadlines, Maine Dam Relicensing Bill Gains Support
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection would be required to notify lawmakers when hydropower licenses are up for renewal. By Kevin Miller, Washington Bureau Chief Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Lawmakers moved Monday to increase their oversight of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection after the agency failed to exercise the state’s right to Read More
Proposed Mining Rules are a Bad Deal for Maine Environment, Taxpayers
by Rep. Jeff McCabe & Rep. Larry Dunphy Kennebec Journal op-ed On Jan. 10, the Board of Environmental Protection passed mining rules that will not protect Maine’s environment or taxpayers. People in support of stronger rules outnumbered those supporting these weak rules by more than 100 to 1. The BEP, however, largely ignored this testimony Read More
Legislative Committee Endorses Bill Designed to Protect Water Quality in Maine Lakes
by Scott Thistle Sun Journal news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Most of Maine’s lakes are still covered with ice, but on Thursday, the Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee approved a bill that aims to further protect water quality for 3,000 of the state’s largest lakes. Among other things, the bill, LD 1744, authored by Read More
Legislative Committee Endorses Do-over of Large-scale Mining Rules in Maine
By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — The Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources committee on Thursday rejected metallic mineral mining rules that have been under development for more than a year. The committee endorsed a resolve, LD 1772, that essentially sends the rules back to the Department of Environmental Read More
Legislative Committee Rejects New Maine Mining Rules
Democrats, environmental groups applaud vote, citing pollution concerns. By Steve Mistler, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA – Democrats on the Legislature’s Natural Resources and Environmental Committee on Thursday rejected rules designed to revitalize metal and mineral mining in Maine, but fiercely opposed by environmental groups that feared its ecological impacts. In a vote of Read More
U.S. House Passes Bill to Study York River
The study, which still requires Senate approval, would determine whether the river should be designated for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program. By Kevin Miller, Washington Bureau Chief Portland Press Herald news story WASHINGTON — The U.S. House passed a bill Tuesday evening asking the federal government to determine whether the York Read More
State Plan Changes after Delay in Reporting Mercury in Lobster
Portland Press Herald news story by Scott Dolan, staff writer State Toxicologist Andrew Smith received an urgent message in 2011: A team of independent scientists had discovered dangerously high levels of mercury in black ducks in a marsh near the mouth of the Penobscot River. But what Smith didn’t know was that the same scientists Read More
