http://www.nrcm.org/rss.asp Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) bdimond@nrcm.orgFri, 03 Jul 2009 19:15:08 EDTFuzzyRSS 1.0.1 http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3141AUGUSTA, Maine — PPL Corp. announced Wednesday that it plans to sell all of the company’s hydroelectric facilities in Maine to an energy investment firm for $95 million.The deal, which must be approved by state and federal regulators, would transfer full ownership of six dams in the following locations: Milford, Orono, Stillwater, Ellsworth, Medway and West Enfield. Collectively, the d...bdimond@nrcm.orgThu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3142Hannaford supermarket will give away an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 reusable tote bags at two stores in Augusta, and one in Winthrop, at the end of July as part of a push to ween more customers off paper and plastic bags.Spokesman Mike Norton said combined, customers at all Hannaford locations already take home 12 to 15 percent of groceries sold in their own cloth bags, saving 54 million paper and ...bdimond@nrcm.orgThu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3136AUGUSTA -- Sidney resident George Viles said he felt frustrated and anxious 10 years ago that the Edwards Dam was being removed.But on his first fishing trip after the Kennebec River ran free, he landed three striped bass, and a large smallmouth, in 20 minutes.Viles, like those fish, was hooked.On Tuesday, Viles and others who advocated for removal gathered at the former site of the dam in Augusta...bdimond@nrcm.orgWed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3137AUGUSTA -- Just more than two weeks before the 10-year anniversary of the removal of Edwards Dam, Atlantic salmon in the Kennebec River, as well as the Penobscot and Androscoggin rivers, were declared an endangered species by the federal government.While state officials decried the listing as a potential impediment to the ongoing recovery of Maine rivers and development on their riverbanks, federa...bdimond@nrcm.orgWed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3138In a welcome move, the federal government has finally gotten out of the way of a number of states, including Maine, that want to adopt stringent regulations on greenhouse gases that come out of the tailpipes of vehicles on the road.On Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, gave California long-sought permission to impose such regulations on new vehicles. That paves the way for state...bdimond@nrcm.orgWed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3139AUGUSTA, Maine — In the weeks leading up to the historic breaching of the Edwards Dam, there was little doubt that striped bass, sturgeon and salmon would eventually return to the Kennebec River north of Maine’s capital city.The only question was how long it would take for sea-run fish to reclaim those 17 miles of free-flowing river after more than 160 years of obstruction.Fishermen qu...bdimond@nrcm.orgWed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3140AUGUSTA — In 50 years of existence, the Natural Resources Council of Maine has compiled a long list of achievements — ranging from the removal of dams to the successful push for a bottle bill in Maine.The council, which employs 24 people, focuses on environmental advocacy through legal action, building grassroots coalitions of businesses and environmentalists and lobbying the Legislatu...bdimond@nrcm.orgWed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3128Kennebec Coalition:  American Rivers * Atlantic Salmon Federation * Natural Resources Council of Maine * Trout Unlimited and its Kennebec Valley ChapterAugusta, ME – State, federal and local officials and conservation leaders gathered on the bank of the Kennebec River today to celebrate one of our nation’s most significant and successful river restoration projects. Ten years ago, ...bdimond@nrcm.orgTue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3129Good morning and welcome to the 10th anniversary celebration of the removal of the Edwards Dam.  Ten years ago, many of us who are here today stood on the opposite bank of the Kennebec to witness the beginning of a new chapter for this great river.  On that day, July 1st, 1999, I joined with then Governor Angus King, then Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt, and others, and we rang a bel...bdimond@nrcm.orgTue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3130AUGUSTA -- In what's described as a boost for the recovery of Atlantic salmon, Gov. John Baldacci's office says Maine expects to receive two federal stimulus grants totaling $7.7 million for habitat restoration.Officials said today $6.1 million would go toward the demolition of Great Works Dam on the Penobscot River, while another $1.6 million would pay to replace culverts as part of a collaborati...bdimond@nrcm.orgTue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT