by Keith Shortall MPBN news story Opponents of a last-minute proposal to change Maine’s mining regulations to accommodate a strip-mine project in northern Maine turned out at a public hearing at the State House today. They say the bill is being rushed through the Legislature in order to benefit a single company, and if approved, Read More
mining pollution
Public Weighs In On Aroostook County Mining Bill
by Rob Poindexter WABI-TV news story Augusta – State lawmakers are considering a bill that would overhaul Maine’s mining regulations. Representative John Martin of Eagle Lake introduced the bill after geological studies showed significant amounts of gold, silver and other metals in Bald Mountain, located in job starved Aroostook County. The bill updates the mining Read More
Battle Brewing Over Mining in Northern Maine
WLBZ-2 TV news story (NEWS CENTER) – Are Maine’s mining laws outdated? The battle lines are being drawn between the state’s largest landowner and environmentalists over a bill before state lawmakers that could allow J.D. Irving to start a mining operation on land it owns in Aroostook County. Bald Mountain sits on land owned by Read More
No Gold Rush Mentality on Mining Rules
Bangor Daily News editorial The speed at which legislators are expected to evaluate and vote on a major rewrite of mining rules in Maine raises questions about the motives of those behind the law. Even if there is no attempt to hide the details of the changes, or if the changes in fact do not 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
Supporters, Opponents Square Off Over Mining Bill Aimed at County
by Jen Lynds, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A near equal number of supporters and opponents spoke during a four-and-a-half-hour public hearing Wednesday on a bill to change the state’s mining laws. Rep. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, said he was prompted to introduce the bill by the increasing price of minerals Read More
Maine Mining Proposal Draws Fire, Support
by A.J. Higgins MPBN news story A proposal to revise the state’s open pit mining regulations to improve the prospects for an operation in Aroostook County is drawing fire from critics, who cite environmental concerns. Democratic state Rep. John Martin, of Eagle Lake, who introduced the proposed changes, says they could benefit a mining site at Read More
Mountaintop Removal for Coal Mining
by Meghan Hayward WABI-TV news story Danforth – A press conference was held in Danforth Friday where some folks from the South urged Mainers to do their part to help stop mountaintop removal for coal mining. It’s a process where the mountain top is blown off, the coal removed, then the top of the mountain Read More
