| Plum Creek Plan Newsletter |
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Coalition to Preserve and Grow Northern Maine Coalition Newsletter - Issue Number 67 Chair: Jim Batey, Somerset Economic Development Corporation Treasurer: Diane Bartley, DKB Catering, Greenville Secretary: Carolann Ouellette, Moose Point Tavern, Jackman Honor Our Veterans on Veterans Day It is the SOLDIER, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the SOLDIER, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the SOLDIER, not the campus organizers, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the SOLDIER, who salutes the flag, who serves the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag. AMEN. Coalition Meeting Maine Election Results In the Maine Senate, Democrats appear to have had a net loss of one seat. Last Session, they held a 19- 16 advantage over Republicans. Unofficial results of Tuesday’s election indicate an 18-17 Democratic advantage, with at least one race likely headed to a recount. In Maine House, Democrats appeared to have increased their majority from a 74 to 73 advantage over the Republicans (including one Green Independent and three unenrolled members) to – unofficially - an 89 to 60 spread. Two unenrolled members – Saviello of Wilton and Woodbury of Yarmouth - held on to their seats. The state's lone Green legislator, Portland's John Eder, lost to Democrat Jon Hinck. Coalition members who were successful on Tuesday include the following: Senator–Elect Doug Smith (Piscataquis)In the Somerset County Commissioner races, Phillip Roy (District 2) and Lynda Quinn (District 3) were elected. In the Piscataquis County Commissioner race, Eric Ward from Greenville was elected. Maine Lynx Habitat Exempted From Endangered Species Act The decision should not hurt lynx populations - which are still protected from harm or harassment under the Endangered Species Act – and will help USFWS to maintain good relations with landowners where lynx live. The Canada lynx is the largest cat known to live in Maine, with populations estimated to be between 200 and 500. Sportsmen and timber industry representatives believe that thousands of lynx live in the Maine woods. "Critical habitat" designation would mean that a landowner or developer is required to submit to an additional layer of bureaucratic review for any projects involving federal money or permits and many landowners strongly oppose designation. The original USFWS lynx proposal encompassed 18,031 square miles in Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Idaho and Washington. Most of northern Maine - including parts of Aroostook, Franklin, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Somerset counties - would have been designated. The final rule announced Wednesday designates critical habitat on just 1,841 square miles in three national parks in Minnesota, Montana and Washington. Agency officials exempted 16,000-plus square miles used in commercial forestry as well as smaller noncommercial plots, land with existing lynx management plans as well as tribal and state land. Maine property owned by The Nature Conservancy also was exempt because of the group’s wildlife policies. Commercial forests were exempt in part to encourage owners of large land tracts to continue working with the agency on lynx conservation. These landowners typically allow biologists and crews onto their lands to research lynx, manage habitat for lynx and sometimes fund the research. USFWS has been opposed to critical habitat designation because the process provides few conservation benefits, limits scientific discovery, consumes enormous amounts of resources and imposes large social and economic costs. In an economic analysis, USFWS estimated that designation for the lynx and related conservation would cost between $175 million and $889 million over 20 years. Environmental groups involved in the legal battle over protection of the lynx denounced the decision and predicted that the decision would be overturned in the courts. Sustainable Economy Initiative for the Northern Forest Once the project is underway, people throughout the Northern Forest will be invited to share the vital issues from their communities and participate in the development of the strategic recommendations through listing sessions, town meeting- style gatherings, regional conferences and other events. For more information, visit their website at: www.northernforest.org/tech_programs_a.htm Alan Duplessis Recognized For His Good Works Alan was recognized as a living demonstration of Boy Scout Ideals. Alan has been an integral part in the maturing and growth of every Boy Scout, and Girl Scout, in his community. He was the organizer of the 1994 Northern New England Camporee, hosting more than 1500 Scouts for a very successful, orderly, and upbeat event. As chair of the Jackman Region Health Center Advisory Board, Alan was instrumental in a capital fundraising campaign to expand the facility. This past year, Alan was the organizing force behind Jackman's materials and construction effort for a school in Bogalusa, Louisiana, a rural town hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina. Alan identified the standing timber, the manpower with which to harvest it, the sawmill to produce lumber from the felled logs, the equipment and drivers to transport it from Maine to a rejoicing hometown crowd in Louisiana. Congratulations Alan! Remarks from the MWC Annual Meeting I want to welcome all members and guests, to the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Maine Woods Coalition. Since the Maine Woods Coalition first organized in 2000, we have had the active support of many Maine people. Our voting membership numbered more than 150 with many supporting members outside the 4- county region. Interest was high in combating this outrageous plan by a group from Massachusetts to change our way of life here. After that volatile meeting in the Greenville high school auditorium, when RESTORE learned just how strong the feelings ran against a national park, their full frontal attack has evolved into a more subtle campaign to save this “national treasure,” the Maine woods. They are now conducting a more piecemeal approach to attaining their goal. With Roxanne Quimby in the forefront buying up any land in the region that goes on the market, the public should not be fooled by her denial of any affiliation with RESTORE. Along with Will LePage as co-founder of Americans for a Maine Woods National Park, she is still quoted on RESTORE’s web site saying that she is “...now acquiring lands as a core for the future Park. This Park will take years to put together, in phases, so the public’s input will be very much a part of its formation.” Along with this and RESTORE’s underground activities, we learned last spring of a group in Augusta called the Maine Backcountry Project, organized by the Dept. of Conservation with members from the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the Sierra Club, Maine Island Trail Assoc, Appalachian Mt Club, Chewonki, Bureau of Public Lands, Northern Forest Canoe Trails, Moosehead Futures, and Garrett Conover, to name just a few. There are no members from the forest products industry or other recreational organizations. Their purpose is to designate large areas of the woods to “re-wild.” Though many believe that a national park is no longer an issue, that the National Park system is in no position to create a new park, I have to ask, is this really the case? If so, why are these well-funded national environmental groups promoting the idea constantly, on their web sites and in print? Though our active membership has declined in the last two years, I have to ask, - Is our mission complete? Is our work done? I don’t believe it is. A series of articles by State Rep David Trahan clearly outlines the current threat to our use and enjoyment of Maine’s forests. If you haven’t already, I urge you to read all three parts of this series, which carefully outline the goal of the Backcountry Project – to re- wild, to close down the Maine woods to traditional uses and access. In closing, Rep Trahan tells us, and I quote, - “There is no way that traditional land use advocates can change the past as it pertains to the backcountry, but they can change the future. To combat the growing national and state pressure to designate Maine’s most magnificent natural resources “off limits”, Maine people of like minds must organize. . . . Organizations such as snowmobile, atv clubs, sportsman’s groups, and those who share the common goal of using our woods and waters, must band together. United, we can speak loudly enough to be heard over the power and influence of the organized environmental movement.” Alliances of this nature are what I hope to see take place in the coming year, as we all work toward a common goal. Poplar Hill Project Set To Move Forward In 2004, the Land Use Regulation Commission approved a "concept plan" proposing 60 residential lots on or near Brassua Lake, located on the Moose River just west of Rockwood. The original landowner developed about 10 of the lots and then sold much of the remaining developable land in June 2006 to a group of local residents and business owners operating under the name Poplar Hill, LLC. The new owners are now seeking LURC approval to proceed with a planned 40-lot shorefront subdivision on the Poplar Hill peninsula on the lake’s eastern shore. Poplar Hill, LLC must abide by all terms of the 2004 concept plan, including setting aside green spaces and respecting permanent conservation easements. The lots will range from 2 to 4 acres in size with an anticipated price tag of $200,000 to $225,000. Construction is expected to begin by spring 2007. Wider Broadband Access Needed for Maine’s Future Prosperity Broadband, or high-speed, high-capacity Internet service, connects businesses and customers but it comes at a high price, sometimes up to $50,000 per month at businesses such as Jackson Lab. Broadband access is a matter of cost rather than the infrastructure, or equipment required to support connections. Governor Baldacci’s Connect Maine initiative, which aims to supply 90% of Maine communities with broadband access by 2010 and 100% of Maine communities with wireless service by 2008, has no funding. Communities need to take advantage of federal government financing programs for providing broadband connections to businesses and public schools, libraries, law enforcement groups, tribes and cooperative organizations in rural communities of fewer than 20,000 people. In addition, loans and grants are available to cover the costs of construction, improvement and acquisition of broadband services. Call Center Coming Back to Presque Isle The Presque Isle center, which employed about 250 people, was closed earlier this year after Bank of America acquired MBNA and shut down four call centers in Maine. The company plans to open as soon as the first quarter of 2007 with about 50 employees and eventually expand to about 300 employees with a $5 million payroll. Read the Plum Creek Plan You should also be able to access the EMDC study as well as ITS trail maps from this website. Read the EMDC Study of the Plum Creek Plan Impacts http://mainegov- images.informe.org/doc/lurc/reference/resourceplans/moosehead/2006-08-18appb.pdf [Caution: This is a very large file and may take a long time to download.] Upcoming Events of Interest May 2007 - Public Hearings on Plum Creek Plan: The Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) has announced that the public hearings for the Plum Creek plan will tentatively be in mid-to-late May 2007. We’ll keep you up to date as details follow. Fair Use Notice: This newsletter may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. The Coalition's makes such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of economic, recreational, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this newsletter for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. email: info@preservegrowme.org |
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