Staffers from the Biodiversity Research Institute in Gorham study the birds in habitats as far away as Alaska and Mexico. by North Cairn, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story A Gorham research organization is tracking loon populations, not just in Maine where the birds are iconic, but all over the continent, from Alaska to Read More
Mercury Pollution
Maine Strong on Mercury Thermostat Recycling
New Maine Times news story A new report released this week shows that Maine’s program for collecting mercury thermostats is keeping the toxic heavy metal out of the trash and the environment, out-performing almost every other state in the nation. In most other states, weaker laws have spelled failure for the thermostat-recycling program, says the Read More
Report: Mercury-Recycling Program Working
A report from the Natural Resources Council of Maine indicates that the state’s program to encourage recycling of mercury-laden thermostats is working. by Irwin Gratz MPBN news story A new report out today hails Maine’s program to encourage the proper recycling of mercury-containing thermostats. Under the program, Mainers who turn thermostats in to recycling centers Read More
NRCM Testifies Before EPA about Carbon Pollution Standards for New Power Plants
So far more than 1.7 million people, including more than 9,000 people from Maine, have written to support the first-ever national safeguards essential to protect Americans from climate-changing carbon pollution from new power plants! That makes two historic firsts, because this is the also largest number of public comments ever received by the EPA. Power plants Read More
Mercury Causes “Foggy Headed” Loons to Fail as Parents, Possibly Threatening Their Future
By Seth Koenig, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story STANDISH, Maine — When Thom Watson is showing tourists or budding sportsmen around the lakes of Maine, loons are the prized sightings. “In terms of Maine folklore, when I’m with clients, I love to see them, love to hear them and, maybe most of all, Read More
Group Alleges Industry Influenced DEP’s Mercury Recycling Report
By Kevin Miller, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story The Natural Resources Council of Maine is accusing Maine Department of Environmental Protection officials of allowing an industry group to have undue influence on a recent report that calls for a re-evaluation of hazardous waste recycling programs. But a DEP spokeswoman said the department’s doors Read More
NRCM: DEP Submits to ‘Undue Industry Influence’ on Product Stewardship Programs
by Gina Hamilton The New Maine Times news story AUGUSTA â A new report released Tuesday by the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) calls into question the amount of industry influence over the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the arena of product stewardship regulations. What is product stewardship? For years, Maine has Read More
DEP Efforts to Review Product Takeback Program Under Scrutiny
by Susan Sharon MPBN news story When the Maine Department of Environmental Protection recently suggested review and possible phasing out of Maine’s first-in-the-nation product takeback programs it had meetings with industry but not with other stakeholders or key staff who manage the programs. That is one of the findings from a Freedom of Access request Read More
Report Suggests Songbirds, Bats at Risk of Mercury Poisoning
by Kevin Miller Bangor Daily News news story Researchers examining the effects of mercury on wildlife found elevated levels of the neurotoxin in songbirds and bats from Maine to Virginia, prompting the study’s authors to call for more monitoring and stronger conservation measures. Researchers with the BioDiversity Research Institute, based in Gorham, and The Nature Read More
