Those of you who have asked us why the number of birds you now see in your yards, feeders, or favorite birding spots, appear to be far fewer than you remembered decades ago may now have your answer. A study published in the rigorously academic journal Science found that there are nearly three billion fewer Read More
plastic pollution
Your Voice Matters
This year, the Natural Resources Council of Maine is proudly celebrating 60 years of protecting the nature of Maine. How fortunate we are that in 1959, a handful of people came together to protect the Allagash River from a dam project that would have spoiled the region forever. Saving that special place was the first Read More
News & Noteworthy — July 2019
News & Noteworthy July 31, 2019 One Salmon’s Journey Bangor Daily News outdoors editor John Holyoke gives us the tale of one Atlantic salmon’s amazing journeys in Maine’s waters and an $880K payout from an oil company spill will fund improvements to help fish migrate up the Penobscot River and its tributaries. Congratulations to Baxter Read More
Balloon Litter Prevention Resources
Balloons Blow website: https://balloonsblow.org/ Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Department of Commerce. September 1988. See page 38. Journal of Scientific Reports: Balloons the No. 1 marine debris risk of mortality for seabirds University of Tasmania, March 1, 2019 Marine Mammal Science, published August 2006. Better Alternatives Now (BAN) 2.0, An Read More
News & Noteworthy — June 2019
News & Noteworthy June 20, 2019 Here’s your latest round-up of news from the past week. Soaring on Solar The solar bill that our clean energy team has worked on for years is awaiting the governor’s signature after being approved by the House and Senate, as was the expansion of the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. Read More
Maine Bans Single-use Plastic Bags
Makes Switch to Reusable Shopping Bags NRCM news release June 17, 2019 (Augusta, ME) – Maine has become the third state in the nation to ban the use of single-use plastic shopping bags statewide. The move comes shortly after the state became the first in the nation to ban polystyrene foam food containers. Today, Governor Read More
News & Noteworthy — May 2019
News & Noteworthy May 30, 2019 Here’s your latest round-up of news from the past week. Respecting Maine’s Tribes In one of the most significant steps forward for environmental justice in recent years, Governor Mills filed a bill to protect sustenance fishing rights for Maine’s tribes. The bill is the result of months of negotiations Read More
NRCM Testimony in Support of LD 1628, An Act To Implement Recommendations of the Department of Environmental Protection Regarding the State’s Container Redemption Laws
Senator Carson, Representative Tucker, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, my name is Sarah Lakeman and I am the Sustainable Maine Project Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I appreciate this opportunity to support LD 1628, which would implement the Department of Environmental Protection’s recommendations regarding Read More
Maine is First State in the Nation to Ban Foam Food Containers
NRCM news release April 30, 2019 (Augusta, ME) – Maine has become the first state in the nation to ban disposable foam food containers under a bill signed into law today by Governor Janet Mills. The new law seeks to curb harmful foam pollution that threatens health of people, wildlife, and the environment. “Maine has Read More
