| Plum Creek Plan Newsletter |
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Coalition to Preserve and Grow Northern Maine Coalition Newsletter - Issue Number 33 Mark Scarano, Piscataquis County Economic Development Council Jim Batey, Somerset Economic Development Corporation Treasurer Diane K. Bartley, DKB Catering, Greenville Coalition leaders Mark Scarano, Jim Batey and Carolann Ouellette – as well as Bob Meyers from the Maine Snowmobile Association, Craig Watt from Indian Hill Trading Post in Greenville, Russell Waters from Northern Outdoors in The Forks and Matt Polstein from the New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket - met at the State House with the Legislature’s Rural Caucus this week to discuss the problems facing winter-related businesses in northern Maine who have been devastated by the lack of snow this year. The meeting produced immediate results. Peter Mills, State Senator from Somerset County left the meeting and immediately called the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME). And Governor Baldacci announced that FAME has agreed to put together a package of financial assistance which will help northern Maine businesses impacted by the lack of snowfall. FAME is offering below market rate loans for working capital purposes to those Maine businesses from heavily snow dependent regions. FAME is reducing its interest rate from 9.5% to 5.5% (current Prime Rate minus 2%) on one-year Economic Recovery Loans of $75,000 or less. The assistance will provide these businesses access to capital necessary to get through this difficult season and provide sufficient time for the business to determine the full impact of the current situation and plan for the future. Eligible businesses must demonstrate a direct impact from this season’s unusually low snowfall levels. Borrowers will be allowed to make interest only payments for one year to minimize the impact on their cash flow. Interested parties should contact FAME at (800) 228-3734 or visit their website at www.famemaine.com NRCM Unveils “Alternative” Plan for Plum Creek Timber Company Lands Acknowledging that some in the environmental community may be surprised to see NRCM release a blueprint for development, NRCM said that their “alternative” plan is a reflection of NRCM's acceptance that development is both inevitable and necessary to the Moosehead region's economic future. Jim Lehner, general manager of Plum Creek Timber Company's Northeast region, said their new plan will consolidate house lots closer to existing communities, consider the Moose Mountain area for a resort and explore more permanent conservation options for 400,000-plus acres. Major revisions to the original plan will not be complete for at least another three weeks. One quote of note from NRCM Executive Director Brownie Carson said in the Kennebec Journal on March 15th: “They (Plum Creek) have no right to develop this land unless they put a persuasive case in front of the people of Maine." Coalition leaders are disturbed by Brownie Carson's comments. To state that private landowners do not have a right to develop their own land is very troublesome. Mr. Carson ignores the fact that the majority of Plum Creek’s plan permanently conserves the land and keeps it open and accessible to the public for traditional Maine uses. Plum Creek is also working diligently through the LURC process, working with LURC staff to ensure the integrity of the regulatory process. As one Coalition member stated after NRCM’s press conference, “Maybe NRCM should buy their own land, go through the same LURC process, including public hearings, follow all the rules and regulations of conservation and development, then be told by a special interest group that they can’t do what they want with their own land.” Old Town Pulp and Tissue Mill Closes In addition to the closure of the Old Town site, wood chip mills in Costigan, Milo, Portage and Houlton that supply raw material to the mill also were shut down Thursday. The chip mills employed approximately 30 people. As part of the announcement to close, the G-P owners have agreed to work with state officials to help identify a buyer for the mill in the next 60 days, and to maintain the mill for that period. Four parties from both in and out of state are interested in purchasing the mill and each potential buyer is scheduled to meet with state officials over the next few working days and visit the Old Town site. At the end of the 60-day period, if the mill isn't sold, Georgia-Pacific will complete the closure. Katahdin Lake Land Swap Proposal The Baxter State Park Authority considers the property part of former Governor Percival Baxter's original vision of a state-owned wildlife sanctuary and where the land would be off-limits to hunting, trapping and snowmobiling. The Sportsmen’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) and the Maine Snowmobile Association oppose the bill in its current form and are advocating for continued hunting, snowmobiling and other traditional uses on the annexed land, noting that 51,000 out of the 200,000-plus acres of Baxter State Park are already open for traditional users. Several members of the Committee have indicated some level of support for a proposal to divide the 6,015-acre Katahdin Lake parcel into two sections, one where hunting would be permitted and the other to be run as a wildlife sanctuary. The proposal - one of six considered Thursday - calls for splitting the parcel into two pieces north and south of the boundary line separating T3 R8 and T4 R8. The 4,040 acres in T3 R8, which includes Katahdin Lake, would become part of Baxter State Park and be managed as a wildlife sanctuary off-limits to hunting, trapping, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. The northern 1,975 acres in T4 R8 would come under the control of the state Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL), which would keep the land open to hunting and other traditional uses. George Smith, Executive Director of SAM, objected to being "kicked out of the best piece of land" and being isolated on the 2,000 northern acres. Other proposals discussed included supporting the original plan to transfer all 6,015 acres to Baxter State Park with no strings attached, thereby allowing the park authority to restrict hunting; deeding the entire parcel to the Park with the stipulation that the northern section remain open to hunting; and asking the parties to renegotiate another deal not involving state lands. The Committee is expected to take a final vote on the proposals next week. Dog Sled Race Cancelled Upcoming Events of Interest March 31st through April 2nd: The Coalition will host a booth at the 26th annual State of Maine Sportsman's Show at the Augusta Civic Center. March 31st and April 1st: The Southern Piscataquis County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual Penquis Valley Regional Expo at Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford. Expo hours will be as follows: Friday, March 31st from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
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