Read some highlights from May 2022 news stories and opinion pieces related to the environment, including Maine’s air, land, water, and wildlife, in this News & Noteworthy from the Natural Resources Council of Maine. May 24, 2022 We will start this week’s News & Noteworthy with some cool news from the Blue Hill area. Local Read More
mineral mining
Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik Opposes Mining Activities in the Cobscook Bay Area
The Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik (Tribe) stands in firm opposition to the efforts by Wolfden Resources (Wolfden), a Canadian mining company, to conduct metallic mining near Cobscook Bay and a precious underground aquifer in the Town of Pembroke. The Passamaquoddy People have relied upon the ecosystems and water sources threatened by Wolfden since time immemorial. Read More
Mainers Oppose Wolfden Mine Proposal
Dozens of local residents, sporting camp owners, and tribal representatives have raised concerns about Wolfden Resources’ proposed metal mine at Pickett Mountain, not far from Baxter State Park and the Katahdin Woods & Waters Monument. These Mainers have all joined the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) in submitting comments to the Land Use Planning Read More
New Mining Threat Near Baxter & National Monument
In January 2020, Wolfden Resources (Wolfden) submitted a rezoning petition to the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) for a metal mine at Pickett Mountain (primarily zinc, lead, and copper) on 528 acres near Mount Chase, not far from Baxter State Park and the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. Unfortunately, on July 27, LUPC deemed Read More
Canadian Company Plans Mining Test on Pickett Mountain in Northern Maine
Wolfden Resources has purchased the mountain for $8.5 million and plans to scope out deposits of copper and other metals starting next month. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A Canadian mineral exploration company has completed the purchase of nearly 6,900 acres in northern Maine and plans to begin test drilling Read More
Maine Lawmakers Toughen Mining Rules, Overriding Governor’s Veto
Move likely to preserve state’s long and informal moratorium on digging for metals By Jon Kamp Wall Street Journal news story Lawmakers in Maine have toughened the state’s mining regulations, overriding a veto from Gov. Paul LePage to potentially lengthen the state’s decadeslong, informal moratorium on digging for metals. The new rules, sponsored by a Read More
Bill to Restrict Mineral Mining Headed for Maine Senate
Sen. Brownie Carson says his bill would be ‘the most protective piece of mining legislation I believe that can be found anywhere.’ by the Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Leading environmental groups and state environmental regulators are working together on a bill they say would create strict regulations for mining Maine’s Read More
It’s Not about Killing Jobs: Aroostook Residents Really Don’t Want Weak Mining Rules
By Shelly Mountain and Alice Bolstridge, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Representatives for mining interests continue to lobby the Maine Legislature to weaken mining regulations that would allow Canadian-owned Irving Corp. to mine Bald Mountain in Aroostook County. In his March 9 radio address, Gov. Paul LePage implies that the residents of Read More
Colorado Mining Disaster Shows Maine was Right to Reject Mining Rules — Again
By Nick Bennett, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed 2015 has been a year of seconds with respect to mining. For the second time, the Department of Environmental Protection submitted the same weak mining rules it submitted to the Legislature in 2014. For the second time, the Legislature wisely rejected them. Also for Read More
