We won’t get ahead by putting our natural resources at risk. by George Smith Central Maine newspaper column Brook trout are more valuable than gold. That was the substance of my testimony on a slew of bills that would govern mining in Maine. Some would make it easier to mine here, some would make it Read More
wildlife habitat
Lawmakers to Revisit Maine’s Rules for Mining
Proposals range from easing environmental regulations to enacting a ban on metal mining. by Kevin Miller, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story The years-long debate over mining in Maine will return to the State House on Monday when lawmakers consider proposals to either rewrite the state’s environmental regulations or enact a total ban on Read More
Proposed Maine Mining Rules Draw Criticism, Support at Hearing
by Steve Mistler Maine Public news story The issue of metal mining in Maine and how it should be regulated has been debated numerous times in the Legislature, but never settled. Environmentalists and residents of Aroostook County converged on the State House Monday for another go. Lawmakers are reviewing seven different bills. One contains provisional Read More
Opposition to LD 395 and LD 160 and in Support of LD 820
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. I reside in Hallowell. I am testifying in opposition to LD 395 and LD 160 and in support of LD 820. Testimony in Opposition Read More
Maine Environmental Board Endorses Contentious Mining Regulations
The Maine Board of Environmental Protection endorsed a major rewrite of mining regulations on Thursday, setting the stage for another legislative debate over the contentious issue.
Maine BEP Provisionally Adopts Controversial Mining Rules Despite Overwhelming Citizen Opposition
Record Shows Opponents Outnumber Proponents: 441-2 News release Augusta, Maine – Today the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) voted unanimously to provisionally adopt weak rules that would govern metal mining in Maine. Because metal mining poses such a serious threat to water quality, these rules were opposed 441-2 by Maine scientists, business people, conservation groups, Read More
Diminishing Options and the Climate Endgame
by Stephen Mulkey, PhD for the Natural Resources Council of Maine One of the strongest hurricanes on record, Ivan, was photographed on September 11, 2004 from an altitude of about 230 miles by NASA Astronaut Edward M. (Mike) Fincke. At the time, Ivan was in the western Caribbean Sea and reported to have winds of Read More
DEP to Add Third-party Monitoring to Controversial Metal Mining Proposal
By Anthony Brino, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story The Maine Department of Environmental Protection must revise portions of a controversial third proposal for metal mining regulations in Maine after hearing from the public and the Board of Environmental Protection, but some critics fear the agency will ignore some major concerns. The Board of Read More
Mining Rules Face Overwhelming Citizen Opposition
Record Shows Opponents Outnumber Proponents: 436-2 NRCM news release Mainers are overwhelmingly lining up against draft rules that would weaken environmental protections from mining pollution in Maine. The Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) is holding a deliberative session to consider the draft rules today at the Augusta Civic Center. According to an analysis by the Natural Read More