Read some highlights from this month’s news stories and opinion pieces related to the environment, including Maine’s air, land, water, and wildlife, in this March 2022 News & Noteworthy from the Natural Resources Council of Maine. March 31, 2022 Let’s start with some great news about a few of the bills that NRCM has been Read More
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Celebrating 5 Years of Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument
Today, Tuesday, August 24, we’re celebrating the fifth anniversary of Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument (KWW). And what a half decade it’s been! The success of KWW is an example of the enormous value that our public lands provide to the American people and our communities. The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), alongside other advocacy organizations like the National Parks Conservation Association, the Wilderness Society, and more, Read More
Support of LD 700, An Act To Promote Economic Development and Outdoor Recreation through Investment in State Parks
Senator Dill, Representative O’Neil, and Members of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, I am Melanie Sturm, the Forests and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and I am providing testimony in support of LD 700. Maine State Parks are in critical need of investment. They face $50 Read More
Opposition to LD 324, An Act To Limit Public Land Ownership in Maine
Good morning Senator Dill, Representative O’Neil, and Members of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry. I am Melanie Sturm, the Forests and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and I am providing testimony in opposition to LD 324. NRCM opposes LD 324 for a number of reasons. First Read More
We All Need Clean Air and a Healthy Climate
As I sat down to write this post, I had other topics in mind, public lands, trail networks, or adventuring locally this summer, all things that I have more of a background in. Yet looking out at a sunset dimmed by the haze of the wildfires raging on the West Coast, it’s hard to not Read More
What’s Happening to the Plum Creek Plan for Moosehead Lake?
Fifteen years ago, the Natural Resources Council of Maine and people who love Maine’s North Woods were embroiled in a protracted campaign to prevent the Seattle-based Plum Creek Timber Company from forever ruining the Moosehead Lake region with the largest development proposal in Maine history. Over a five-year period, ending in 2009, we collectively achieved Read More
In Support of LD 1832, “An Act To Ensure Adequate Funding for the Maine Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and Waste Discharge Licensing Program”
Senator Carson, Representative Tucker, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee. My name is Nick Bennett, and I am the Staff Scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM is Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group with more than 25,000 members and supporters. I am testifying in support of LD 1832, Read More
CMP Power Line Won’t Help the Environment, and Certainly Not Mainers
It boils down to this: Massachusetts needed a new power source, but it didn’t want an unsightly transmission line in its backyard. By Sandra Howard of Caratunk, a Registered Maine Guide and a Say NO to NECEC member Portland Press Herald op-ed CARATUNK — In 2017, Massachusetts initiated a large-scale procurement process for clean energy Read More
Critics Question Plan for CMP Power Line through Western Maine
by Steve Collins, Staff Writer Sun Journal news story LEWISTON — Whether Central Maine Power should get permission to construct its proposed 145-mile electrical transmission line between Quebec and Lewiston drew sharp comments Wednesday during a session sponsored by the Sierra Club at City Hall. The $950 million project would deliver power generated by Hydro-Québec Read More