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 Environmental News
Maine environmental news often comes quickly and with little warning. Stay up to date on Maine environment news.
From issues such as climate change, healthy waters, Maine forests and wildlife, and sustainability—and environmental policy that could impact them—you’ll find NRCM’s up-to-the-minute news releases to see our perspective on the most pressing issues facing Maine’s land, air, waters, and wildlife. This includes findings relating to our role as Maine’s watchdog of activities of state environmental agencies—we stand ready to blow the whistle when regulations are not enforced.
You can also find our news “round up,” News & Noteworthy, which puts the spotlight on media stories that do a particularly good job capturing current news about Maine's environment. We hope you find this part of our website helpful and informative!
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
The Wind is Finally at the Katahdin Region’s Back, and It’s Thanks to the Monument
By Dan Corcoran, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed I’ve been a real estate agent in the Katahdin region for the past 13 years. Before that, I spent 30 years with Great Northern Paper’s Woodlands Division as manager of forest policy and real estate leases throughout northern Maine. Real estate, like anything, has Read More
What Does It Take to be a Diehard Polar Plunger? Some Brave Mainers Tell All
By Abigail Curtis, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News story BELFAST, Maine — Every New Year’s Day, Mike Goulart of Belfast digs out his water shoes, dons a silly costume and heads to the boat launch, where he strives to be the first person to get into the frigid ocean during the city’s annual polar dip. Read More
Maine’s Largest Solar Farm Prepares to Power Up
The project in Madison, more than twice the size of others in the state, will supply 3,000 homes and small businesses. By Colin Ellis, Central Maine newspapers staff writer Portland Press Herald news story MADISON — The state’s largest solar farm could be fully operational this week. The solar energy project in the Madison Business Gateway Read More
A Strong Solar Industry Will Grow Our Economy, Keep Our Energy Dollars Here
By David Woodsome and Martin Grohman, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Maine’s interest in energy independence is rooted in some of our greatest natural resources, such as water and wood. Increasingly, more Mainers are turning to another abundant resource — the sun. All Mainers benefit when homeowners and businesses such as Smith’s Read More
Son of National Monument Visionary Exploring Next Steps for Katahdin-area Site
It’s still early, but Lucas St. Clair has visited national parks to gain insight and wants a Quimby foundation to help nearby communities thrive. by Deirdre Fleming Portland Press Herald news story Hanging on the wall of his office in Portland’s West End is a photo of a smiling Lucas St. Clair canoeing with U.S. Read More
The Costs of Buying Food We Throw Out
By Bonnie Washuk, Staff Writer Sun Journal news story It’s almost Christmas, a time traditionally to not only spend money on gifts and decorations but also on food for feasts and gatherings. Want to save some easy money during this budget-busting season? Don’t buy food and throw it away. That’s the message from a host Read More
Maine Lobstermen Know the Threat Posed by Climate Change. Now is the Time to Act.
By Richard Nelson, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed I rose the other morning and began my preparations to head out on the water from Friendship Harbor to take up the my last load of lobster traps. My thoughts turned from from closing out my season to chuckling over my selection of boots Read More
