MPBN news story A controversial proposal to revamp the Land Use Regulation Commission has been unanimously approved by a legislative committee, virtually guaranteeing its passage by the full Legislature. Debate over the future of the agency responsible for zoning and planning in Maine’s vast unorganized territories has raged for more than a year. But one Read More
Maine Legislature
The Natural Resources Council of Maine reviews every bill being considered by the Maine Legislature to determine which ones deserve support and which ones should be opposed based on their potential impact on Maine’s environment. Read more about the bills we are following and taking action on.
There’s Gold in Aroostook County, and Bill Would Ease Maine Mining Regulations
By Kevin Miller, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A remote mountain in the woods of far northern Maine is once again the focal point of a major debate over mining as landowners seek sweeping changes to state regulations in response to the rising price of gold and silver. Environmental and Read More
Relaxing Mining Rules is Fool’s Gold
By Jeff Reardon Bangor Daily News op-ed Looking at Irving’s proposal for a copper mine near Ashland last week, I remembered what mining did to a Pennsylvania stream I fished in 1990. Fresh out of college, I was working in Newark, N.J, wondering where the nearest brook trout might be. I quickly discovered the great Read More
LURC Reform: It’s All About the Money
by Sandra Neily Bangor Daily News op-ed Decentralize and localize LURC with more county representation? Allow a county to opt out of LURC oversight? Remove centralized management of a forest asset that drops billions of dollars a year into the Maine economy? Imagine North Woods resources as an affiliated, sprawling string of factories. (Maine people Read More
LURC’s Role Needs to Be Reaffirmed, Not Subject to Local Political Pressure
The agriculture committee should reject the LURC reform proposal to protect Maine’s woods by Robert Kimber Portland Press Herald op-ed Our license plate rightly declares that Maine is Vacationland. Tourism is one of our major industries, and the future of that industry depends on maintaining the health, integrity and beauty of the Maine coast and Read More
‘Takings’ Bill Would Reward Big Landowners at Taxpayers’ Expense
L.D. 1810 is an effort to thwart the environmental laws that protect Maine’s water and wildlife. by Ron Joseph of Camden, a retired wildlife biologist Portland Press Herald op-ed CAMDEN — During the late 1950s and early 1960s, my father often took me spring fishing on weekends. Occasionally, we’d travel north from our Waterville home Read More
Opposition to LD 1798, An Act to Reform Land Use Planning in the Unorganized Territory
Good afternoon Sen. Sherman, Rep. Edgecomb and members of the Committee. My name is Lisa Pohlmann. I am a resident of Jefferson. I am the Executive Director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I am here today on behalf of the 12,000 members and supporters of the Natural Resources Council of Maine in opposition to Read More
Statement on Proposed Restructuring of Maine DEP
by Pete Didisheim, NRCM Advocacy Director We are deeply concerned about the Administration’s announcement to pursue a massive restructuring of Maine’s DEP, and we urge the Legislature to put the brakes on this bad idea. We are aware of no evidence that this proposal will be good for Maine — not for taxpayers, Maine businesses, Read More
Poll Shows Maine Voters Oppose Environmental Rollbacks
A poll conducted two weeks ago by Portland-based Critical Insights shows that Maine voters overwhelming oppose specific environmental rollback proposals now before the Maine Legislature, including efforts to weaken shoreland zoning, the bottle bill, and Maine’s energy building code. The survey finds that Maine voters place a high priority on protecting our land, water and air; Read More
