A bill would tighten oversight of the DEP when it comes to dam relicensing to keep the state from losing its say on water levels. by Colin Woodard Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Lawmakers want to impose firmer oversight of the Department of Environmental Protection’s handling of dam relicensing after the state missed Read More
Clean & Free-flowing Waters
Mercury Increasing in Birds Downstream of Canada’s Oil Sands
Synopsis by Brian Bienkowski Environmental Health News news story Mercury levels are increasing in the eggs of water birds that nest downstream of Canada’s oil sands region, according to a new study. Mercury is increasing in eggs of gulls and terns in waters downstream of Alberta’s oil sands region. Mercury levels are increasing in the Read More
Health of Maine’s Lakes Vital to “Quality of Place,” Health and the Economy
Our lakes are at risk of deterioration due to cuts in DEP staff and website records deletion. by Joan Welsh Portland Press Herald op-ed ROCKPORT — One of the bedrock reasons we all love Maine is that our state is a beautiful, clean and safe place to live, work and play. Many people move here Read More
Oversight of Maine Lakes Shouldn’t Falter
Kennebec Journal editorial Last September, high phosphorous levels led to a sudden algae bloom in Lake Auburn that killed about 200 trout. It is likely that heavy rainfall and erosion washed the phosphorous into the lake, where higher-than-usual temperatures spurred the growth of the plant, which pulls oxygen from the water as it decays, suffocating Read More
Report Criticizes DEP as Maine’s Lake Water Quality Dips
The Natural Resources Council of Maine cites cuts in staffing and funding for programs. by North Cairn, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is systematically and deliberately dismantling successful programs designed to protect Maine’s lakes, environmental advocates said Tuesday. In a 14-page report, the Natural Resources Council of Read More
NRCM: Maine Lakes at Risk
New Report Documents Damage to DEP’s Lake Protection Efforts New Maine Times news story The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) today released an investigative report documenting damage caused to the State of Maine’s lake protection efforts under the Administration of Governor LePage. Although Maine’s lakes are among our state’s most valuable natural resources, the Read More
Advocates: New Policies, Cutbacks Pose Threat to Maine Lakes
by North Cairn, staff writer Portland Press Herald news update The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is systematically and deliberately dismantling successful programs designed to protect Maine’s lakes, environmental advocates charged Tuesday.click image to enlarge A 14-page investigative report, published by the Natural Resources Council of Maine, documents a wide range of criticisms of the Read More
Group Accuses LePage Administration of Endangering Quality of Maine Lakes
by Jay Field MPBN news story A Maine environmental group said the LePage Administration is putting the health of the state’s lakes at risk by cutting staff and programs designed to protect them. The Natural Resources Council of Maine levels the charges in a new report out today. Officials with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection Read More
Study: Closed Maine Mine Polluting Water with Toxic Metals
A Dartmouth study focusing on the Callahan Mine finds elevated levels of copper, zinc, cadmium and lead in the sediment, water and small fish. by the Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story PORTLAND â A former open pit mine that’s now a federal Superfund site has caused elevated levels of toxic heavy metals in Read More
