“People threatened or injured by public health and environmental harms depend on access to the courts to redress those harms. This is a pillar of the American justice system.” – Environmental Defense Fund “We need Justices who will make sure our courts remain a place where science and the law beat corruption and privilege.” — Read More
environmental laws
NRCM Testimony in Support of LD 1830, An Act Establishing the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future
Senator Claxton, Representative Martin, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government, my name is Pete Didisheim. I am the Advocacy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I appreciate this opportunity to testify on behalf of our 20,000 members and supporters in support of LD 1830, An Act Establishing Read More
April 2, 2019: Citizen Action Day, Augusta
NRCM’s annual Citizen Action Day was held on Tuesday, April 2. This annual event is a great opportunity for people to meet with their legislators at the State House in Augusta and urge them to vote to protect Maine’s environment. NRCM Citizen Action Day Tuesday, April 2, 2019 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. NRCM’s office Read More
Bill to Tax Fossil Fuel Producers Among Dozens of Climate-Related Proposals Before Maine Legislature
by Steve Mistler Maine Public news story Listen to full news story. From carbon taxes to the Maine version of the Green New Deal, Democratic state lawmakers are pitching a slew of bills designed to address the threat of climate change. While Democrats have introduced climate bills before, the proposals had no real chance to Read More
EPA to Roll Back Water Protections
Supporters praised Trump for scaling back what they said was federal overreach and ‘never about clean water.’ By Ellen Knickmeyer and John Flesher, Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story WASHINGTON — Cabinet chiefs and Republican lawmakers celebrated alongside farm and business leaders Tuesday as the Trump administration made good on one of its biggest Read More
Out-of-state Lobbying Group Wants to Weaken Maine Laws. Legislators Shouldn’t Fall for It.
Bangor Daily News editorial A couple dozen Maine communities have enacted ordinances to protect their waterways and residents from pesticides. Now, Gov. Paul LePage, through a bill that appears to have been written by a pro-industry group, is seeking to outlaw such rules. The Maine Municipal Association, which represents the state’s towns and cities, explained Read More
Sen. Collins of Maine to Oppose Pruitt Nomination to EPA
by the Associated Press Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine announced Wednesday that she’s going to vote against President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Collins told Maine Public that she has “significant concerns” over Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s active opposition to EPA policy and his lawsuits against the agency on Read More
December 1, 2016: "The 2016 Election Results and the Future of Maine’s Environment," Brunswick
Thanks for joining us on Thursday, December 1, for a discussion and presentation by NRCM Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim of the outcomes of the 2016 elections and what they may mean for Maine’s environment. Although NRCM does not get involved in candidate elections, we have a strong interest in the results of elections. This year’s Read More
Bankrupt Coal Companies Get Break On Clean-Up Costs
By Scott Tong, staff writer Marketplace news story Just about every big coal mining company in America is in bankruptcy, or emerging from it. That includes the world’s largest private sector coal firm: Peabody Energy. Peabody won court approval to set aside just a small amount of money for environmental cleanup – a mere 15 Read More