For the last two weeks of May, Memorial Middle School sixth grade students in South Portland have been immersed in the process of designing and creating interpretive trail signs. Students first looked at different examples of commercially produced trail signs by searching online. They identified characteristics and elements of effective signs and possible topics. On Read More
Gorham Middle School Weeds Out Invasive Species – Part II
Gorham Middle School students spent May 3rd and part of May 4th outside collecting data and treating the plots. Students came up with a variety of ways to try and eradicate the knotweed. Methods for treating plots include: covering with tarps, digging knotweed out, spraying with a mixture of vinegar and soap, also trying a Read More
Legislature Overrides LePage Veto of Mining Regulations
by Susan Sharon Maine Public news story The Maine House and Senate have overridden the governor’s veto of a bill to protect Maine from the hazards of mining pollution. This marks the third time in the past five years that lawmakers have blocked the Department of Environmental Protection from adopting mining rules that critics said Read More
State Considers Taking Over Dam on Popular Fishing Lake
by Fred Bever Maine Public news story Gov. Paul LePage wants the state to take over a small dam in northern Maine that straddles the border with Canada on the St. Croix River. It’s one option to prevent its total abandonment by the paper company that now owns it. But the proposal is meeting skepticism Read More
Maine Lawmakers Buck LePage, Pass Mineral Mining Rules after Years of Debate
By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill to regulate large-scale mining in Maine will go into law over the objections of Gov. Paul LePage following the Legislature’s rejection of his veto. The House of Representatives settled the matter Wednesday afternoon in a convincing 122-21 vote in favor Read More
Lawmakers Override LePage Veto, Adopt Mining Restrictions
The regulations, often described as among the nation’s strictest, ban larger open-pit mines and require mining companies to cover the costs of major cleanup projects. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — After years of heated debate, Maine lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to restrictive new regulations on metallic mining Read More
Maine Bottle Bill Expanded to Include “Nips”
In 1976, Maine Senator Edmund Muskie mobilized a staunch anti-littering sentiment that resulted in the passage of Maine’s biggest recycling success story, the Bottle Bill. Fast forward some four decades later and the bill is reaching new heights. In 2017, the House and Senate voted to override Governor LePage’s veto of a bill requiring a five-cent deposit on small liquor bottles—known widely as “nips”—to be added to the Bottle Bill. Roadside litter is Read More
Maine Enacts the Nation’s Strictest Metal Mining Law
Metal mining is one of the most dangerous industrial endeavors. Maine is a particularly risky place to mine because of the high levels of sulfides in metal deposits here and our rainy and snowy weather. Sulfides in metal deposits become sulfuric acid when exposed to air or water. Maine’s wet springs and snowy winters would Read More
NRCM Statement on Strong Bipartisan Vote to Add “Nips” Liquor Bottles to Maine’s Bottle Bill
Statement of Sarah Nichols, Sustainable Maine Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “NRCM applauds Maine lawmakers for taking a strong, bipartisan stance against roadside litter and in support of Maine’s Bottle Bill by adding ‘nips’ to the redemption program. Today the Maine Senate voted to support adding nips to Maine’s Bottle Bill by a vote Read More
