Bangor Daily News editorial In 1959, the environment was a vague concept to most and protecting it was not a priority. That was the year the Natural Resources Council of Maine was formed to protect the places and values that, in many ways, have come to define Maine. The group, which celebrates its 50th anniversary Read More
Green Greatness: Group to Mark 50 Years of Protecting Environment
by John Richardson, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story Maine has passed some of the country’s most aggressive environmental laws, from a ban on billboards in 1969 to a light bulb-recycling program signed by Gov. John Baldacci on Monday. For the past 50 years, the Natural Resources Council of Maine has been at the Read More
Maine Governor Signs First-in-the-nation Law to Require Manufacturers to Recycle Mercury-containing Light Bulbs
New law protects families and the environment; Saves taxpayer money News release AUGUSTA – Today, Governor Baldacci signed a new first-in-the-nation law to help reduce mercury pollution by requiring compact fluorescent light bulb manufacturers to share the costs and responsibility for recycling their mercury-containing bulbs. Similar bills are now pending in MA, VT, and CA. Read More
Groups Call For Action to Open St. Croix River to Alewives
50 U.S. and Canadian Groups Petition International Body News Release McAdam, New Brunswick, Canada—Fifty organizations from the United States and Canada have called upon the International Joint Commission (IJC) to require that the St. Croix River be opened up for passage of alewives (river herring). The lead groups in this effort are the Atlantic Salmon Read More
Endangered Species Protections Extended to Atlantic Salmon on Three Major Maine Rivers
by Anne Ravana Maine Public Radio news story The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service today extended endangered species protections to Atlantic salmon in the Penobscot, Kennebec, and Androscoggin rivers and their watersheds. The news has not been well received by some Maine officials. The state’s Department of Read More
Maine House Unanimously Passes An Act Regarding Maine’s Energy Future, 137-0
NRCM news release Today the Maine House voted 137-0 to pass “An Act Regarding Maine’s Energy Future.” The bill was drafted by a joint select committee created this session by Speaker Hannah Pingree and Senate President Libby Mitchell. The bill sets ambitious goals to weatherize 100% of Maine residences and half of Maine businesses by Read More
Millions of Fish Return to Maine River
The Kennebec River has been surging with life this spring as millions of alewives (river herring) travel inland from the sea to reach spawning habitat that was inaccessible before two key dams were removed in 1999 and 2008. Osprey and Bald Eagles have been well fed, and the entire river ecosystem has benefited, as a Read More
Remarks on LURC’s Deliberations on Plum Creek’s Moosehead Lake Development Proposal
NRCM Statement By Brownie Carson, NRCM Executive Director Today, Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission is holding what is supposed to be its final deliberation about Plum Creek’s massive development proposal for the Moosehead Lake region. Although a final vote on Plum Creek’s revised plan is not expected until July 1st, the direction of this proceeding Read More
Maine Adopts First-in-the-nation Law to Recycle Mercurcy-containing Light Bulbs
New law protects families and the environment; saves taxpayer money NRCM news release The Maine House and Senate have voted to support a new, first-in-the-nation, law to help reduce mercury pollution by requiring compact fluorescent light bulb manufacturers to share the costs and responsibility for recycling their mercury-containing bulbs. Governor Baldacci is expected to sign Read More
