In a state like Maine, we rely on clean water for drinking, tourism, and our outdoor recreation economy. But the EPA has proposed scrapping the Clean Water Rule, a protection under the Clean Water Act that safeguards our streams and wetlands. The proposed replacement, dubbed the “Dirty Water Rule,” would jeopardize the drinking water our Read More
Environmental Protection Agency
Former Coal Lobbyist Andrew Wheeler Poised to Take Over EPA
Nomination “a grave threat to the health of Maine’s people and environment” NRCM Statement Augusta – In response to an expected vote on Tuesday at the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to advance the nomination of former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as the next administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Read More
Trump Dismantling Mercury Pollution Ban Exemplifies Embrace of Coal
By Former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and Rev. Mitch Hescox The Hill op-ed The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the business of protecting public health and our environment — or at least it used to be. The agency and its acting administrator, a former coal lobbyist, have been waging an offensive on public health Read More
Acting EPA Administrator Puts Mainers’ Health at Risk
Sen. Collins should protect her constituents and vote against Andrew Wheeler’s confirmation as permanent agency chief. by Tony Owens of Cape Elizabeth, an emergency room doctor at Maine Medical Center Portland Press Herald op-ed CAPE ELIZABETH — Throughout my career, I have focused on ensuring that families and children, both here in Maine and across Read More
Collins Reintroduces Bill that Would Track Mercury Pollution
By Patty Wight Maine Public news story Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is reintroducing a bill that would track mercury pollution to better protect human health and fisheries. The American Lung Association supports the bill. The vice-chair of the Maine chapter, Dr. Marguerite Pennoyer, says better monitoring is important, paired with federal efforts Read More
Trump’s EPA Taking Its Most Harmful Step Yet, This Time on Mercury Emissions
A proposed policy would no longer count a regulation’s benefits, just its costs to polluters, in deciding the severity level of environmental protections. Los Angeles Times editorial Reprinted in Portland Press Herald President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency recently released a proposal that would undermine not only current regulations, but regulatory efforts in the future by disavowing Read More
Trump Administration’s Proposal to Dramatically Weaken Limits on Toxic Mercury Pollution from Coal Plants Threatens Mainers’ Health
Statement of Emmie Theberge, Federal Project Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The Trump Administration has taken the first step to dramatically roll back the 2011 Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, federal protections that limit toxic mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants nationwide. In its announcement he EPA says ‘that it is not appropriate and Read More
New England States Fear Increased Mercury Contamination as EPA Considers Weakening Rules
By Susan Sharon Maine Public news story Scientists are speaking out about what they say have been “remarkable improvements” in curbing mercury emissions under Obama-era regulations that are now under threat by the Trump administration. Mercury is a toxic chemical most commonly associated with coal-burning power plants. Because they are downwind from coal-burning states, Maine Read More
Trump Administration Pushes to Gut Clean Water Rule, Putting Maine’s Clean Water at Risk
Statement of Emmie Theberge, Federal Project Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The Trump Administration’s proposal to scrap the Clean Water Rule is the wrong move for Maine and for our country. If finalized, this ‘Dirty Water Rule’ would strip safeguards from streams and wetlands across the country. In a state like Maine, it would Read More
