Good morning Senators Breen and Dill, Representatives Gattine and Hickman, and members of both the Appropriations and Financial Affairs and Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committees. My name is Cathy Johnson. I live in Alna. I am here today on behalf of the 20,000 members and supporters of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) to Read More
land conservation
Does Northern Maine Need More Subdivisions?
By Jonathan Robbins, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Maine’s Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) proposes to eliminate rules that limit new development applications within 1 mile of clusters of similar development anywhere in the Unorganized Territories. The new proposed system would allow new development applications of any type in designated zones along Read More
Support of LD 568, An Act To Change the Composition of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission
Good afternoon Senator Dill, Representative Hickman, and members of the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. My name is Cathy Johnson. I live in Alna. I am here today on behalf of the 20,000 members and supporters of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) to speak in support of LD 568, An Act to the Read More
Conservation is a Maine Value Our Lawmakers Must Uphold
By Jeremy Sheaffer, Maine state director of The Wilderness Society in Hallowell Bangor Daily News op-ed Mainers take pride in our wild forests, rivers and shorelines that support our outdoor traditions and our growing recreation economy. Increasingly, voters in Maine measure the merits of political candidates by the strength of their commitment to conservation, as Read More
Proposed Bond Would Pump $95M into Maine Land Conservation and State Park Improvements
By Steve Mistler Maine Public news story Listen to full news story. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is backing a $95 million bond proposal for the Land for Maine Future program and improvements at state-owned parks and historic sites, although she says the total amount of the package could shrink. The borrowing package was recommended by Read More
Coalition Calls for State to Borrow $95 Million to Get Conservation “Back on Track”
Legislative approval and a referendum would be needed to borrow the money, which would be allocated under the Land for Maine’s Future program. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Conservation and outdoor recreation groups are recommending that Maine borrow $95 million to dramatically increase land protection efforts and tackle a Read More
Public Lands Bill an Encouraging Sign from Congress
Bangor Daily News editorial Less than a month after America’s longest government shutdown, the US Senate offered a glimmer of bipartisan hope in the form of a significant public lands package that passed with overwhelming support on both sides of the aisle. The broad legislation — which would protect millions of acres around the country Read More
Following Advocacy from Senators Collins and King, Senate Votes to Permanently Reauthorize LWCF
LWCF has conserved land and created outdoor recreation opportunities across the country. News release from Senators Collins and King Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate approved a permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as part of a public lands legislative package. The legislation passed by a vote of 92-8 will Read More
LUPC Proposal Faces Overwhelming Opposition from Maine People
95% of written comments raised major concerns NRCM News Release Augusta — A sweeping proposal by the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) that would open up 1.3 million acres of Maine’s North Woods for development and divert investments from existing communities has received overwhelming opposition from people across Maine, according to an analysis by the Natural Read More