Environment and Outdoors

Environmental news

Acadia National Park Considers $6 Fee To Drive To Cadillac's Summit

By • Jan 14, 2021
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press file

Visitors making reservations for Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park may need to pay a much higher fee this spring.

The park announced that a proposal to charge $6 for vehicle reservations beginning in May — triple the previous rate. The reservation system was piloted last year and will be formally added this summer for vehicles entering the Cadillac Mountain summit road.

Conservation Groups Sue To Reduce Ship Traffic In Right Whale Areas

By • Jan 13, 2021
Michael Dwyer / Associated Press

Several conservation groups are suing the federal government in an effort to force new restrictions on ship traffic in areas where endangered North Atlantic right whales are present.

Record Maine State Park Attendance In 2020

By • Jan 11, 2021

As COVID-19 upended people’s regular schedules, it served to bolster attendance at state parks to more than 3 million for the first time.

Environmental Group Pushes Back On Delay Of Plastic Bag, Foam Container Ban

By • Dec 23, 2020
Sarah Bentham / Associated Press file

Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection says it won’t enforce a statewide ban on single-use, plastic carry-out bags and polystyrene foam takeout containers until July of next year — and that’s drawing some fire from environmentalists.

Electric Utilities Preparing For Wet, Windy Forecast For Christmas Day

By & • Dec 23, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

A blast of warm air from just north of the Bahamas is on its way to Maine for Christmas.

Maine, New Hampshire Opt Out Of Regional Transportation Emissions Initiative

By • Dec 21, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press file

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia signed of memorandum of understanding today committing to a new, regional “cap and spend” program to curb carbon emissions from the transportation sector. Eight other states formally agreed to continue policy work on the regional program.

Weather Service: 6 Or More Inches Of Snow Expected In Southern Maine

By • Dec 16, 2020

Southern Maine may get more snow Wednesday night into Thursday than it has seen so far this year, with more than six inches in some areas.

Mike Eckster of the National Weather Service office in Gray says it’s not certain exactly how much snow is coming.

“Generally looking like 6-plus inches in extreme southern Maine, especially in York County, and you’re going to get less snow as you head farther north,” he says.

Eckster says Cumberland County is likely to see 5-9 inches, but unlike the heavy, wet snow that fell during the last storm, this snow will be dry.

More Than 2 Tons Of Plastic Bound For Incinerator Spills Off Searsport

By Murray Carpenter • Dec 11, 2020
Murray Carpenter / For Maine Public

On Dec. 2, dock workers at the Mack Point cargo facility in Searsport spilled about 5,000 pounds of plastic waste into Penobscot Bay. It had arrived in a large shipment from Northern Ireland, bound for a waste-to-energy incinerator in Orrington.

State Workers' Switch To Telework During Pandemic Brings 'Seismic' Drop in CO2 Emissions

By • Dec 8, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press file

Maine government workers have reduced their car travel by 1 million vehicle miles a week since the start of the pandemic, thanks to the rapid, wholesale adoption of telework policies.

About 75,000 CMP Customers Still Without Power After Nor'easter

By • Dec 7, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press file

More than 230,000 Central Maine Power customers were left in the dark over the weekend. The company’s executive chairman, David Flanagan, says for some, the outage may last a day or two longer.

State Testing Private Wells In Fairfield For PFAS Contamination

By • Dec 5, 2020

The state is investigating contamination of dozens of wells in the Somerset County town of Fairfield.

Conservation Groups File Emergency Petition Calling For Closure Of Fisheries To Protect Right Whales

By • Dec 3, 2020
Stephan Savoia / Associated Press file

Three conservation groups are petitioning federal regulators to make an emergency declaration that groundfish and lobster fisheries pose an immediate threat to the survival of endangered North Atlantic right whale.

In New Report, Janet Mills Starts Maine Down Path To 80% Carbon Emissions Reduction By 2050

By • Dec 1, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

After more than a year of work by hundreds of Mainers, Gov. Janet Mills’ Climate Council released a roadmap on Tuesday for the state’s efforts to stall the worst effects of climate change and adapt to those that can’t be avoided.

Storm Damage Closes Roads, Knocks Out Power To More Than 100,000 Maine Electric Customers

By • Dec 1, 2020
Pat Wellenbach / Associated Press file

The National Weather Service says Monday night’s storm came and went as expected.

Power Crews On Standby With Heavy Rain, Wind In Maine Forecast

By • Nov 30, 2020
Joel Page / Associated Press File

Power crews in Maine are gearing up for a wild night of weather.

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