Column: Presidential order lacks public process

MOUNT DESERT ISLANDER • June 12, 2020

President Donald Trump came to Maine last Friday. At the Bangor airport he met with Maine fisheries representatives. Trump’s question to them was: “Our conservation rules, are they overly tough, are they ridiculous?” He put Paul LePage in charge of a task force to “figure it out.” He promised a tariff on imported cars that will be “equivalent plus” until tariffs on lobster are dropped. LePage said lobster sales to China “went from 600,000 pounds to less than 100,000 pounds.” Not quite. They went from 12 million pounds to 2.2 million over a 6-month period in 2019 compared to 2018. Trump signed a proclamation reopening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument off the coast of Massachusetts to commercial fishing. The gathering approved the action despite the fact that no Maine boats fish that particular area.  

Letter: In need of more information

SUN JOURNAL • June 12, 2020

The Maine Legislature established the Maine Climate Change Council in May of 2019. Very little has been heard from it. One goal: “By January 1, 2030, the state shall reduce gross annual greenhouse gas emissions to at least 45% below the 1990 gross annual greenhouse gas emissions level.” That seems overly ambitious and, while reducing reliance on fossil fuels is laudable, the issue of climate change and its causes are still controversial. Many are not convinced of the effect of human activity on climate change. I believe most people want clean water, rivers, oceans and air and support reasonable and cost effective measures to that end. I look forward to some information on the progress of the Maine Climate Change Council. ~ Robert Casimiro, Bridgton

Maine Wildlife Park sold out for June

SUN JOURNAL • June 11, 2020

Good news: After a two-month pandemic delay, the Maine Wildlife Park officially opens to visitors Monday. Not-so-good news: Entry is by reservation only and every reservation for June has been taken. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, which operates the park, began accepting reservations online June 5. The spots were filled within a few days. Home to more than 30 species of animals, including moose, deer and eagles, the park is very popular with families and tourists. 

Proforestation Mitigates Climate Change and Serves the Greatest Good

FRONTIERS IN FORESTS • June 11, 2020

Climate change and loss of biodiversity are widely recognized as the foremost environmental challenges of our time. Forests annually sequester large quantities of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), and store carbon above and below ground for long periods of time. Intact forests—largely free from human intervention except primarily for trails and hazard removals—are the most carbon-dense and biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems, with additional benefits to society and the economy. Proforestation serves the greatest public good by maximizing co-benefits such as nature-based biological carbon sequestration and unparalleled ecosystem services.

The Great American Outdoors Act is set to pass through Congress and help fund national parks and conservation land

WCSH-TV5 • June 11, 2020

“It’s probably the most significant conservation bill that’s been passed in the Congress in the last 50 years," Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said about The Great American Outdoors Act. The bill has two parts. “The permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and the restore our parks act," King said. Parks like Acadia that have undone maintenance projects. The park also generates more than $300 million a year for the state's economy.

Nestle considers selling Poland Spring

SUN JOURNAL • June 11, 2020

Nestle is considering dumping Poland Spring and the rest of its North American water business, the company’s board of directors announced Thursday. The company said in a statement that it wants to focus on its international brands and its premium mineral water brands. Its regional spring water brands, which includes Poland Spring and is run by Nestle Waters North America unit based in Stamford, Connecticut, is not part of that new scope. Poland Spring draws from 10 water sources in the state, largely in western Maine. It employs about 860 people and has bottling plants in Poland, Hollis and Kingfield.

This fern-filled forest in Castine is a lovely escape

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 11, 2020

A 100-acre parcel of wetlands and mixed forest in Castine, the Rene Henderson Natural Area is a beautiful slice of wilderness that features thick beds of ferns, old trees, a pond and an interesting variety of understory plants. On the property, about 2.5 miles of trails and old roads make exploration easy.

CMP Will Offer Credits For Service Shortcomings To Restore Customer Trust

MAINE PUBLIC • June 11, 2020

In an effort to restore customer trust, Central Maine Power Co. said Thursday that it will offer a $25 credit for any bill that is late or inaccurate. Customers also will be credited if the company misses a scheduled service appointment without notifying them at least four hours in advance.

Bristol Mills Fish Ladder Strains to Accommodate Surge in Migration

LINCOLN COUNTY NEWS • June 11, 2020

The Bristol Mills fish ladder is in the midst of a banner year, though this may be its last. Well over 100,000 alewives have ascended the ladder thus far in the migratory season, stretching the aging ladder’s capacity and working volunteers hard. This is a “surge year” for alewives across the Midcoast. A couple towns over, the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder has counted over a million alewives already this year. The influx of migrating fish occurs every two or three years as a result of periodic increases in upstream spawning.

Hotelier blasts Mills over quarantine alternative for out-of-state visitors

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 11, 2020

Mark Walsh of Ocean Properties, which operates 11 hotels in Maine and 125 nationwide, said requiring visitors to present negative tests in lieu of quarantine is not a viable option.  “After more than a month of trying to work together, it is clear that our thoughts, efforts and collective concerns from across our industry, and local chambers of commerce, were given no weight,” he wrote to Gov. Janet Mills. Lindsay Crete, the governor’s spokeswoman, said in an email that Mills considered their position. “But their out-of-state consultant-driven proposals were inadequate to protect the health of Maine people, staff and visitors.”

Trump Administration Eliminates Protections for Vast Ocean Monument — Experts React

THE REVELATOR • June 11, 2020

While most eyes were elsewhere last week, President Trump signed a proclamation to remove fishing restrictions within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. The 4,900-square-mile marine protected area off the coast of New England is home to numerous endangered species and fragile deep-sea corals that can live for thousands of years. Here’s why the action is so harmful, how it’s possibly illegal, and why it won’t help struggling fishing communities.

Opinion: CMP corridor project will create new wildfire dangers in remote Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 11, 2020

Central Maine Power Company would like to run a high voltage powerline through Maine’s undeveloped forest to deliver power from Quebec to Massachusetts along a new corridor. As we’ve seen from the history of California’s electricity provider, Pacific Gas and Electric, these lines can pose an extreme fire hazard, which is why I am apprehensive to trust CMP with this for-profit project. ~ Sen. Scott Cyrway, a retired Kennebec County Sheriff, also serves on the Fire Protection Services Commission

Mainers Support Strong Climate Action Plan

NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • June 11, 2020

Earlier this month, the Natural Resources Council of Maine and our partners hosted a webinar with Mainers who are working with the Maine Climate Council (MCC) to create a new statewide Climate Action Plan. We have been calling on the MCC’s Working Groups to propose — and members to adopt — a strong and effective Climate Action Plan with concrete steps that will grow Maine’s economy, reduce air pollution, and build healthy, resilient, and equitable communities. If you missed the webinar, watch it here: The Maine Climate Council — Everything You Need to Know. We were excited to see more than 400 people from across Maine participate in the webinar and breakout groups.

Maine's Sea-Run Fish: Stories of Success

NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • June 12, 2020

NRCM Staff Scientist Nick Bennett & Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Project Director Deb Wilson discuss Maine's sea-run fish species, their importance to our ecosystems, & efforts to aid their recovery in this pre-recorded webinar.

A Coastal Moment from East Penobscot Bay, Maine

MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST • June 11, 2020

As on most parts of the Maine coast, East Penobscot Bay has a patchwork of islands—some conserved, some not, all strikingly beautiful with a variety of shoreline, forest cover, anchorages and history. There’s a reason that the mid-coast area is considered one of the premier cruising grounds in the world.

National Park Visitor Spending Generates Economic Impact of More Than $41 Billion

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • June 11, 2020

The U.S. Department of the Interior today announced the annual economic benefit of national parks to the U.S. and local economies. In 2019, visitor spending in communities near national parks resulted in a $41.7 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 340,500 jobs. Visitor spending increased by $800 million from 2018 to 2019 and the overall effect on the U.S economy grew by $1.6 billion. In the last five years, visitor spending has increased by $4.1 billion and the effect on the U.S. economy grew by $9.7 billion. 

Federal funding not enough to meet farmers’ needs, state official says

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 11, 2020

Federal funding programs created to help businesses weather the coronavirus pandemic have fallen short of meeting the needs of Maine’s farmers, Agriculture Commissioner Amanda Beal told lawmakers Thursday. Speaking before the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, Beal said the state’s share of funding streams from the $2 trillion CARES Act that passed in April – including the Paycheck Protection Program and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – has been insufficient. Loss of revenue is the biggest concern among Maine’s more than 13,000 farmers.

Watch this robin feed its babies Watch a robin feeds its babies

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 11, 2020

A longtime wildlife watcher, April Paul of Clinton was overjoyed this spring when a pair of robins constructed a nest underneath her porch. Over the past few weeks, she has carefully documented the birds’ lives — from nest building to laying eggs to raising their hatchlings. By strategically placing her mobile phone so its camera lens is between the deck boards, she’s been able to capture some truly amazing photos and videos of the robin family.