With so much happening at the Legislature on bills that will affect Maine’s environment, we know that it’s hard to keep track of important developments. That’s why NRCM has launched a new feature on our website that provides fresh updates and news. We encourage you to check out this new feature, which will report both the good news and bad news on our efforts to stop rollbacks of laws that protect Maine’s land, air, and water.
Just yesterday, for example, the DEP Commissioner Darryl Brown testified in strong support of a bill that would dramatically weaken regulation of development. The bill was developed by the Maine Realtors and Developers Association (MEREDA), which gave an award last year to Darryl Brown. Also up yesterday was a bill that would undermine DEP’s regulation of “overboard discharge systems,” which pose a threat to coastal water quality and clam flats. The Maine Clammers Association slammed the bill as a threat to their ability to provide a living for their families. Further information like this is featured in the updates posted from yesterday.
This new State House Updates feature is a companion to our legislative tracking page, which provides a list of bills were working on, along with position memos describing NRCM’s views and links to testimony delivered by NRCM staff.
Together, these web features should help you stay up-to-date on the latest developments from Augusta – where the pace of activity is intense, and NRCM staff are at work every day trying to stop the rollbacks of Maine’s environmental laws.
Pete Didisheim
Advocacy Director
Ryan, thanks for your post. We are focused right now on what is happening at the State House, as this has been a session in which many of our laws protecting Maine's air, land, water, and wildlife have been under attack. The Governor and some legislators have introduced more than 50 bills that would rollback protections that have been in place - many for decades, so we created this State House update page as an easy way for people to track what is happening in regard to various bills throughout the session.
During this busy session, we constantly remind ourselves of the beauty and unique qualities of Maine’s environment, which makes it all worth it. I encourage you to visit our website at www.nrcm.org and check out our My Maine This Week feature (www.nrcm.org/mymaine.asp), a great way for NRCM members and others to share their beautiful photos of Maine. We also have events like Open Mic Night and many hikes, paddles, and bird walks throughout the year. You can see video from this month's Open Mic Night at http://www.nrcm.typepad.com/nrcminsider/.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog and ask this question about our work. Contact us any time if you have additional questions.
Posted by: NRCM | May 31, 2011 at 02:20 PM
R U guys only about stuff at the State House? What about the rest of Maine, the stuff the laws protect? The striking beauty, the scenic waters and rivers? The woods and wildlife? Otherwise, what r u fighting 4?
Posted by: Ryan | May 21, 2011 at 10:30 PM