Members of the Coalition to Preserve and Grow Northern Maine stood up in support for balanced economic growth in northern Maine at the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) Issue Scoping Sessions on Tuesday August 16th in Greenville and Thursday August 18th in Rockwood.

Thank you to those of you who waited in line, then sat through long hours of testimony. Both evenings were lengthy.

While Plum Creek is pleased to have the opportunity to listen to peoples’ concerns about the Plan and work with local residents to collaborate on details of the Plan, it has been frustrating in terms of most of the speakers at the two Scoping Sessions have been seasonal residents.

As Coalition leader Diane Bartley of Greenville stated, “I have lived in Greenville all my life and I recognized very few faces at the Scoping Session.”

State and national environmental groups have been filling the sessions with speakers who are not year-round residents of the area, reading prepared testimony against the Plan. We encourage you to attend and voice your support for balancing conservation, working forests, and economic growth in northern Maine. The two remaining Issue Scoping Sessions will be held at the following locations (doors open at 5:30 p.m.):

• Monday August 22 6:00 p.m. Sky Lodge Conference Center, Moose River (Jackman)
• Wednesday August 24 6:00 p.m. Maple Hill Farm Bed & Breakfast and Conference Center, Hallowell

The Coalition officially announced its formation in a Press Release dated August 18, 2005:

Led by the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, a coalition has recently formed to demonstrate public support for Plum Creek’s Plan for conservation and economic development.

PCEDC Executive Director Mark Scarano of Dover-Foxcroft, states, “Many of us who grew up here, live here and work here feel we need a place at the table when this issue is discussed. The Coalition will give us an organized voice.”

The Coalition to Preserve and Grow Northern Maine will be based in Greenville, with an Education Center located in the Community House in downtown Greenville. Local residents such as Diane Bartley of DKB Catering and Geno Murray, CEO of the local hospital are joining, working to gather more members.

Scarano reports that “Opponents like Jonathan Carter, RESTORE and NRCM (Natural Resources Council of Maine) are portraying the Plum Creek Plan as a 426,000 acre development. The truth is actually just the opposite. The Plan conserves 417,000 acres for a working forest and conservation. The development piece is spread out over 10,000 acres only.”

Scarano adds, “Piscataquis County is one of the poorest counties in Maine and Plum Creek is working with us to try and turn that around. We need jobs, we need economic growth and, according to the recent Charles Colgan economic analysis report, the Plum Creek Plan will help provide that.”

Scarano continues, “We hope that everyone can engage in this debate with civility. After all, that’s the Piscataquis County way.”

Other interested parties are joining the Coalition. Bob Myers, Executive Director of the Maine Snowmobile Association, reported a unanimous vote of MSA’s Board of Directors to join the Coalition and throw their full support behind the Plum Creek Plan.

As stated by Greenville native and resident Diane Bartley, “The Plum Creek Plan is a win-win for everyone. It doesn’t get much better than that. Plus, I don’t know many private landowners who would want to develop only 2 percent of their land and keep 98 percent for public use.”

The Education Center will serve as a central resource in the Moosehead region, providing factual information to the public on the Plum Creek Plan. Frances Turner of Monson will be working at the Education Center from Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The public is encouraged to visit the Center, have a cup of coffee and get more information about the Plan, including copies of issue papers, reports and maps of the Plan area.