Notes from Lisa

Honoring Rachel Carson on Earth Day

I got up early one morning and happened to look out my second-story bedroom window. There in an oak tree, directly across from me, was a Bald Eagle as tall as a skateboard. We were eye to eye, and gazed at each other for a minute or so, before he spread his wide wings and flew. It remains one of my all-time favorite wildlife sightings. And I owe it to Rachel Carson.

The aerial spraying of DDT in the 1950s was responsible for severe population declines in many bird species, and eventually, the Bald Eagle
was put on the federal endangered species list.  

Carson’s renowned book, Silent Spring, was published in 1962, and revealed the connection between pesticides and bird declines. DDT was banned in 1972, and Carson’s work is credited with starting the current-day environmental movement.  Bald Eagles are  no longer on the endangered species list.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine began in 1959, so I like to think that Rachel helped us and we helped her. The committed Maine people who started NRCM to protect the Allagash River and fight against the Big A dam were already questioning the unbridled march of industry across the landscape and its impact on all of nature—air, land, water, wildlife. Rachel Carson gave us a toolkit of scientific facts that would help us in our future work. Together, we challenged the belief that damage to nature was an inevitable cost of progress.

I grew up in the 1960s and 70s with the environmental movement shaping my views, and here I am today, with the best job I can imagine. NRCM has been working to protect Maine’s environment for 52 years. We have helped to pass some of the leading laws in the nation to reduce the amount of mercury, lead, and other toxics from our waste stream and everyday products. The power of citizen action is alive and well in Maine.

Rachel Carson always asked us to tap into that deep sense of wonder that nature brings us, like looking out my window at that majestic eagle and just feeling, “WOW!” When that experience is threatened, and we are faced with ill health due to chemicals or unclean water, when we see fewer and fewer birds every year, when we feel the ever-rising temperatures from climate change, then we feel scared and mad and the intense need to do something. There’s always something we can do.

Earth Day is here, and it’s a good time to be more conscious of the decisions we make every day and to try something new. NRCM is featuring our 55 new solar panels today for our celebration of Earth Day. We’re generating electricity and saving money, too. What can you do?

o Get some facts. Visit the NRCM website. Sign up to be an activist.
o Put in a CFL light bulb.
o Hang your laundry out to dry.
o Wash out and recycle more plastics.
o Walk somewhere instead of driving.
o Contact your local legislator or Congressperson about an issue that matters to you.

And be sure to go outside, take a deep breath, and just experience the wonder of nature. She’s there for us, every day.

Lisa Pohlmann, NRCM Executive Director

Related:
Get to know the Bald Eagle, an NRCM website Creature Feature

New study finds songbirds at risk from mercury - take action to protect them

 

"Redneck Legacy" & Mountaintop Removal Mining: Thoughts on a Presentation by a West Virginia Activist

Chuck Keeney, from Friends of Blair Mountain, gave a fabulous presentation at Bowdoin College last night on the history of coal mining and the unionization of miners in West Virginia. His great grandfather played a central role in the miners’ early resistance to coal company exploitation that eventually led to the Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921. This was one of the largest civil uprisings in United States history and the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War. For five days in Logan County, West Virginia, around 10,000 coal miners confronted an army of 30,000 police and strikebreakers backed by coal operators. The battle ended after the U.S. Army intervened by presidential order.

This longstanding resistance to the coal companies, according to Chuck, is not taught in school textbooks anywhere in Appalachia but is passed down through storytelling from generation to generation. The United Mine Workers were strong in West Virginia for about 50 years but as coal companies turned to mountain top removal and the greater use of machinery, the number of workers was halved, and the strength of the unions has been weakened. The coal company lobby remains stronger than ever, and the devastation left by continued mountaintop removal mining is horrific, now covering an area the size of Delaware in moonscapes across Appalachia. Chuck listed off a deeply disturbing list of human health problems in areas where mountaintop mining takes place: cancer rates double in towns around mountaintop removal mining; there’s an increased rate of brain tumors and birth defects. There’s also increased flooding; water resources in these areas becomes poisoned. Hear Chuck talk about some of these environmental impacts on this short YouTube video we put together from the event.

Brownie Carson, NRCM’s former executive director, and Henry Heyburn (link), current NRCM board member, both originally from the Appalachia region, participated in the 2011 March on Blair Mountain along the route of the 1921 march of the miners to battle. NRCM took the opportunity of this presentation to call upon the audience to support the recently released, first-ever carbon emissions standards  for new power plants issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. These draft rules are a critical first step in addressing climate change, which is why they will be heavily lobbied against by the same coal companies that Chuck says still rule West Virginia today. Across the country, we are working to collect over one million supportive comments on the rules in the next few months. Please take a minute and write a comment here and we will deliver it to the EPA. Thank you!

Lisa Pohlmann, Executive Director

Related: Take Action: the Carbon Emission Standard

             Take Action: Mercury and Air Toxics Standard

Why the Rush? Last-minute Bills Undermine Democracy

There are bills that have been introduced in this “emergency” second year of the legislative session that are truly alarming for those of us who care about Maine’s environment. We knew when the session started in January that some of them were coming. We knew that we faced the “takings” bill that would require taxpayers to pay landowners to obey the law when environmental protections negatively impact property values. The bill to weaken the ability of the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) to protect Maine’s North Woods was in play. Others appeared early in the session, such as a bill to restrict the public from appealing agency decisions (LD 1647) and the bill to ban dam removals (LD 1718). You have been with us, turning out for hearings, calling your legislators, and writing letters that appeared in your newspapers. You have made a positive difference in how legislators are dealing with these bills as we get closer to the finish line. Elements of some of these harmful bills are still in play and will be through next week at least.

But in the final days of this session, there is a new “sneak attack.” A truckload of bad bills were introduced just recently with the clear intention of ramming them through with little public notice or debate. This is not against the rules; it’s just very bad process. This late in the session, bills can be introduced with only 24 hours notice to the public. Who has time to take off work and come to testify with that kind of short notice? What kind of window does that allow for you to learn about the bill and call your legislator? Such an onslaught of bills on so many fronts borders on being undemocratic. These proposals have been rejected before or are, understandably, unpopular with most Maine people.

These late bill introductions are also meant to tie the hands of groups like the Natural Resources Council of Maine, who carefully anticipate, track, analyze, and strategize around all bills that could have an impact on Maine’s environment. It is our role to keep our members informed and poised for action. NRCM supporters care deeply about clean water, clean air, protecting special places—the qualities that make Maine special. As we have seen this session and going back decades, when given enough notice, you contact your legislators and participate in the public dialogue of letters-to-the-editor where issues are considered openly and on a reasonable timeline.

So we were shocked and outraged when a bill to gut Maine’s mining laws (LD 1853) suddenly appeared just last week. This sweeping, complex bill was drafted by Nevada lawyers and the Pierce Atwood law firm in Maine. Maine’s existing mining standards took 18 months to write, yet LD 1853 was released for “public review” less than 24 hours before the public hearing. Now Pierce Atwood is pressing hard for the bill to be adopted immediately. J.D. Irving, Limited, from Canada, wants to create a huge open-pit mine in Maine’s North Woods and this bill would open the door for mining everywhere in the state. Such projects could seriously pollute our water and land, putting the health of wildlife and people at risk. We are working with the legislators on both sides of the aisle to beat back this misguided bill.

Another example is the late introduction of Governor LePage’s four bad energy bills intended to destroy the independence of Efficiency Maine and undermine Maine’s renewable energy progress. These are issues that Maine people and businesses care deeply about, but Governor LePage apparently has decided to subsidize Canadian government-owned Hydro Quebec, and allow it to flood the Maine market and undercut the Maine businesses and jobs in Maine’s growing renewable energy industry. Bringing these controversial bills to the table so late in the session flies in the face of the “transparency” the Administration has been touting.

NRCM’s job is harder than ever, but I am proud of our dedicated staff that works at the State House every day and late into the evening talking to legislators and gathering information so we can share it with you. We don’t like the way this process is playing out but we are determined to make sure your voices are heard from near and far, and to fight for what we know is right. And I’m proud of you. Some of you have made it to hearings and called your legislators despite the last-minute calls to action.

Your voices are so critical. Thank you. We will continue to keep you informed and ready for the next step.

Lisa Pohlmann, NRCM Executive Director

Related:
No Gold Rush Mentality on Mining Rules

Maine Lawmakers Should Not Back New Energy Policy

A Gift of Clean Air

Yesterday, the EPA released new standards for power plant emissions that will significantly cut emissions of mercury, arsenic, acid gases and other toxics from power plants. This is great holiday news for Maine, since we are located downwind from coal-burning power plants to the South and West that have polluted our air, lakes, and streams for too long.

Earlier this week, NRCM met our coalition partners in downtown Portland to highlight the importance of these rules with a press conference featuring physicians, a biologist, and parents— and even a “real” Santa putting “clean air” and “healthy kids” packages in our stockings— thwarting the Grinch, who was there symbolizing out-of-state polluters, with bags of dirty coal.

We need Senators Snowe and Collins to join us in the spirit of giving clean air to the people of Maine, and to stand up for these new standards and against attacks and delay tactics from their Congressional counterparts. I can’t think of a better gift for us all! Happy Holidays from all of us at NRCM, and thanks for all you do for Maine's environment.

Lisa Pohlmann
Executive Director

Go, Andrea!

As you may have heard, Andrea Lani, a Department of Environmental Protection employee, is now suing the state because she was moved to a lesser departmental position after she spoke out publicly in defense of Maine’s Kid-safe Products law. This important safeguard, which received overwhelming support when it was passed in 2008, went on the chopping block in the last legislative session. At issue is her right to speak on her own time on a legislative issue. Currently, it’s perfectly legal for her to do so as a state employee, without retribution from the LePage administration, which seems determined to gut the law, either through legislation or by cutting the legs out from under its implementation. I applaud Lani for taking this step to defend herself—and all of us—from these continual attacks on laws that make the environment safer for our families.

Here are two stories that provide more in-depth information about this issue:

http://knox.villagesoup.com/news/story/dep-worker-sues-state-for-retaliation/458521

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/10/18/news/court/former-head-of-safer-chemicals-for-kids-program-sues-after-job-change/?ref=latest

Lisa Pohlmann
NRCM Executive Director

Fighting for the Right to Clean Air

The battle to address climate change is raging in Washington, as Big Oil and Big Coal pour millions of dollars in to block any progress on moving toward a clean energy future. But, they are not winning… yet. Several bills that would block the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to cut climate changing pollution were recently introduced in the Senate, but were defeated.

We would like to thank Senator Susan Collins for voting against the worst measure – put forward by Senator McConnell of Kentucky – which would have permanently prohibited the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating climate-changing pollution from stationary sources, such as big boilers and powerplants. This measure runs counter to the Supreme Court’s ruling that climate-changing emissions are dangerous air pollutants that EPA must address through the Clean Air Act. Senator Collins was the only Republican to vote against this measure. It is a testament to her understanding of the damaging impact climate change has had, and will continue to have, on Maine’s environment, economy, and way of life.

The battle continues over whether and how EPA will do its job to address climate changing pollution. Without authorization and the funding for EPA to carry out its work, the U.S. will fail to address the most important environmental issue of our time. Mainers are fed up with breathing bad air from away. We ask that both Maine Senators let the EPA do its work to reduce pollution now, and forestall the more devastating—and expensive—climate change that science has repeatedly shown is coming our way.

Lisa Pohlmann
Executive Director
Natural Resources Council of Maine

Citizen Action Day 2011 Has Record-high Turn Out

Once a year, NRCM organizes a day for Maine citizens to come together at our office, to learn about policies that affect our land, air, water, and wildlife during in the legislative session, and to go together to the State House so they can speak to their representatives. Today we had the largest turnout ever – with more than 100 folks from all around the state attending Citizen Action Day 2010. We had so many people we had to carry on sessions on both floors of our building! Most had never been to this kind of an event before.

 

I began the program by asking everyone to think of a moment when they were recently enjoying Maine’s great outdoors – and remember once they get to the State House that this is what they are trying to protect. After my short opening remarks, NRCM policy experts briefed everyone on some of our priorities right now. By the time we headed down the street, everyone was gung ho to tell their representatives why we need to keep our safeguards strong.

We packed the hallways on the 3rd floor of the State House as we waited for Representatives and Senators to come from their chambers to meet with us. Intense conversations took place between constituents and their reps up and down the corridor as these citizens shared concerns about proposed legislation to rollback the Kid-safe Products Law, Maine’s iconic bottle bill, Land for Maine’s Future, energy efficiency, and shoreline zoning and vernal pools that provide essential habitat for wildlife.

Some of the lawmakers were very responsive; others were elusive. But this is just the beginning. These 110 activists are now going back home to contact their friends and neighbors to make calls, too. And they are going to write more letters and send more emails to these reps and hold their feet to the fire when it comes time for the final votes.

This is how we win. This is how we keep Maine the treasured place we love rather than a replica of so many states with bad air, sprawling development, and polluted lakes, rivers, and streams. Thanks to everyone who came to Citizen Action Day! Thanks also to everyone who could not make it but is doing their part back home. We are making progress and we can’t let up!

Rally Against the Rollbacks

Hundreds came to rally at the State House on Monday to support our environment and to reject the LePage Administration’s rollback agenda. The energy was powerful as citizens from across Maine crowded the stairwell above the Hall of Flags and packed the rest of the area, most wearing stickers that said “I Love Maine’s Environment” and “Maine’s Environment is Our Business.” Cheers rang out when it was suggested that the LePage proposal was a non-starter and should be shelved with all 63 attempts to gut Maine’s environmental protections. Several business people spoke at the mic about the importance of Maine’s environmental standards for their businesses. They rejected the “pickerel vs. payroll” mentality as a throwback to some bygone era that the vast majority of us have long left behind. The last speaker was Jim Wellehan, owner of Lamey Wellehan, and a long-time believer in a sustainable business model for his company. From recycling waste to installing efficiency lighting, Jim has been investing in Maine’s environment as part of his business plan because he wants to save money and he wants clean air and clean water for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

During the rally I spoke with many passionate citizens. One woman shared that she and her husband moved to Maine to set up their small software business because they wanted to be in a place where the environment was still protected, unlike the large Midwestern city they moved from with its growing sprawl, crime, and environmental degradation. I urged her to write up her story and submit it as a letter to the editor tomorrow. Someone else said to me, “I want to do more.” I suggested that she contact her local legislators who will be dealing with these bills in coming weeks.

 This is a time for all of you to tell your stories to the media and to your legislators about why you care so much about the Maine environment. We need to let Governor LePage know just how out of step he is with Maine people with his assault on the environment that supports our economy and our quality of life.

For more information about the rollbacks and how to take action, visit NRCM's website at  http://www.nrcm.org/stop_environmental_rollbacks.asp.

Thank you,

Lisa