Tourism and fishing depend on a clean coastline – so why isn’t our state exempt from the oil exploration planned by the Trump administration? Portland Press Herald editorial The Trump administration Tuesday removed the waters off Florida – and only Florida – from the list of areas newly open to offshore drilling, and in doing Read More
oil spills
New England Congressional Delegations Submit Bill to Ban Offshore Drilling
The opposition to the Trump administration’s plan to expand offshore oil and gas drilling comes from every senator and representative in coastal New England. by the Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story CONCORD, N.H. — A bipartisan group of U.S. senators and representatives from New England has introduced a bill to prohibit oil and Read More
Proposal to Drill in Waters Off Maine Coast Widely Opposed
By Jennifer Mitchell Maine Public news story On Thursday, the Trump administration announced a draft proposal that would open large swaths of federal waters to potential oil and gas drilling, including the coast of Maine. The proposal would open most of the outer continental shelf to oil and gas drilling for a five-year lease period Read More
Trump Plan Would Open Maine Waters to Oil Drilling
Five-Year Offshore Plan could devastate Maine’s coastlines, fisheries and coastal communities Statement of Lisa Pohlmann, Executive Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The Trump Administration today released a dangerous five-year plan for offshore oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic Ocean—including off the coast of Maine, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Arctic Ocean. This Read More
2016 Legislative Report Card
This was a challenging legislative session. Partisan tensions were high because it is an election year, and because Governor LePage vetoed so many bills that reached his desk. In a very positive development in January, lawmakers unanimously restored funding for the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program that the governor had refused to release. At Read More
NRCM Testimony in Opposition to LD 1494, “An Act to Revise Oil Spill Reporting Standards”
Good afternoon Senator Saviello, Representative Welsh, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. My name is Nick Bennett, I reside in Hallowell, and I am the staff scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. NRCM is Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group with over 16,000 members and supporters. I am testifying in opposition Read More
South Portland Seeks Dismissal of Suit Challenging Ban on Oil Loading in Harbor
It argues that Portland Pipe Line can’t claim damages when it says it has no plans to move tar sands crude from Canada to the city’s waterfront. By Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The city has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by the Portland Pipe Read More
Critics Blast Offshore Oil Drilling Plan for East Coast
Business and petroleum groups say they want to explore for more oil and gas to stabilize prices. By Wayne Parry, The Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Environmentalists say allowing offshore drilling along the U.S. East Coast from northern Virginia to the Georgia-Florida border could lead to a catastrophic oil Read More
South Portland Hires Boston Law Firm to Defend Clear Skies Ordinance
by Alex Acquisto, The Forecaster staff The Forecaster news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The Boston law firm Foley Hoag will defend the city against a lawsuit filed last month by Portland Pipe Line Corp. The City Council, as expected, unanimously approved the hiring Monday night. In the nine-count lawsuit, Portland Pipe Line and American Waterways Read More
