by Susan Sharon Maine Public news story A new report from the Natural Resources Council of Maine paints a bleak picture of what could happen in Maine if the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency are adopted. The proposal calls for cutting the agency’s budget 31 percent, slashing 3,200 jobs and eliminating Read More
environmental protections
NRCM Testimony in Opposition to LD 1040, “An Act Regarding Permitting Under the Natural Resources Protection Act”
Senator Saviello, Representative Tucker, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee: My name is Nick Bennett, and I reside in Hallowell. I am the Staff Scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM is Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group with more than 20,000 members and supporters. NRCM strongly opposes LD 1040, Read More
NRCM Testimony in Opposition to LD 395 and LD 160 and in Support of LD 820
Senator Saviello, Representative Tucker, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee: My name is Nick Bennett, and I am the Staff Scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I reside in Hallowell. I am testifying in opposition to LD 395 and LD 160 and in support of LD 820. Testimony in Opposition Read More
EPA Chief Scott Pruitt Questions Basic Facts About Climate Change
by Geoff Brumfiel Maine Public news story President Trump’s head of the Environmental Protection Agency says he does not believe that carbon dioxide is a major cause of global warming. “I would not agree that [CO2] is a primary contributor to the global warming that we see,” Scott Pruitt said Thursday in an interview with Read More
Environmental Groups Decry Confirmation of Scott Pruitt to Lead EPA
by Mal Leary Maine Public news story The U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental activists are upset that the vote was allowed to happen before next week’s public release of emails between Pruitt and energy company executives. The Senate voted 52-46 to Read More
Senate on Track to Confirm Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator
Maine’s Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King have both said they will vote against the confirmation. by Michael Biesecker, Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans are poised to use their majority to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, despite calls from Democrats Read More
NRCM Testimony In Opposition to Nomination of Kathleen Chase to the Board of Environmental Protection
Senator Saviello, Representative Walsh, and distinguished members of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. I am Pete Didisheim, the Advocacy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and I appreciate this opportunity to testify on behalf of our members and supporters in opposition to the nomination of Kathleen Chase to the Board of Read More
We Stand Ready: A Post-Election Message
The elections are behind us, and we face big challenges. The LePage Administration has proven hostile toward existing environmental protections for the last four years and has put up numerous roadblocks to progress. In addition, we have lost some strong advocates at the Legislature as a result of the elections. That is the bad news. Read More
Penobscot Mercury Scare Shows Need for Regulation
Maine’s natural resource-based businesses won’t succeed without tough enforcement. Portland Press Herald editorial The lobster fishery has been the one bright spot in Maine’s seafood industry for years – at least until last week. On Tuesday, the state Department of Marine Resources ordered a two-year shutdown of lobster and crab harvesting in a 7-square-mile region Read More
