The Maine Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for industrial Activities is up for renewal in 2010.
Progress continues on refining the document prior to the official comment period. The DEP Storm-water team has been working with stakeholders on permit language and has made the draft version availble on their website.
To view the latest DRAFT Version, click the link below:
By: Susan Sharon
The Maine Forest Products Council is asking Gov. John Baldacci and the Canadian government for help with what they say could become a shortage of wood for Maine mills. At issue is a new law that prevents Canadian loggers working in Maine from collecting unemployment during mud season. The Council says the new law is discouraging Canadians from working on this side of the border, and making it difficult to harvest wood.
In a letter to the governor, Patrick Strauch of the Maine Forest Products Council, and Joel Swanton of the Forest Resources Association, say that logging contractors are having a difficult time attracting qualified labor to harvest their wood. And they warn that Maine mills could face a possible shortage of wood supply in the coming months.
Their July 7th letter suggests that the reason for their concern relates to the Legislature’s passage of LD 1545, “An Act To Protect Maine Workers.” The bill included a change that prohibits Canadian loggers brought to Maine under the federal bonded labor program from qualifying for Maine unemployment insurance during the several-months-long mud season.
Read More on Maine News Simply
| Forest Industry Worries New Maine Law Could Lead to Wood Shortage | |||||
| 07/16/2010 Reported By: Susan Sharon | |||||
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The Maine Forest Products Council is asking Gov. John Baldacci and the Canadian government for help with what they say could become a shortage of wood for Maine mills. At issue is a new law that prevents Canadian loggers working in Maine from collecting unemployment during mud season. The Council says the new law is discouraging Canadians from working on this side of the border, and making it difficult to harvest wood. |
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In a letter to the governor, Patrick Strauch of the Maine Forest Products Council, and Joel Swanton of the Forest Resources Association, say that logging contractors are having a difficult time attracting qualified labor to harvest their wood. And they warn that Maine mills could face a possible shortage of wood supply in the coming months. Their July 7th letter suggests that the reason for their concern relates to the Legislature’s passage of LD 1545, “An Act To Protect Maine Workers.” The bill included a change that prohibits Canadian loggers brought to Maine under the federal bonded labor program from qualifying for Maine unemployment insurance during the several-months-long mud season. |
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ALC Note: This letter was originally published in the July/August 2010 edition of the Forest Landowner magazine.
Massachusetts Soap Box
Delivered July 8, 2010
By Cinda Jones
State Coordinator and 9th Generation
President of W. D. Cowls, Inc. Land Company
It feels like Massachusetts landowners are stranded on a bizarre and foreign planet these days. A place where the noise made by a small, but passionate, part of the public is more compelling to forest policymakers than fundamental principles of natural resource management, a place where a narrow band of scientific data is trotted out to justify hasty and drastic policy changes. Massachusetts landowners are reaching out to regional and national like-minded organizations and corporations for advice and help, and we’re getting it. If some of the policies proposed for Massachusetts forests and forest landowners take hold here, a bad precedent with possible national implications would be set.
Click Here to read the entire article on the American Loggers Council’s website.
LINCOLN, Maine — Town leaders will not join East Millinocket and Millinocket officials in opposition to the “Great Maine Forest Initiative.”
The Town Council during its meeting Monday opted not to act on a motion to support the Maine Woods Coalition’s opposition to the initiative.
After more than five years of intensive work on revising the Commission’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which included research, panel discussions, guest speakers, public workshops, a facilitated working group, formal public hearings, and countless revisions throughout this process, the Commission adopted the revised plan. On March 16, 2010 Governor John Baldacci approved the 2010 Comprehensive Land Use Plan, thereby completing the revision and adoption process.
An electronic version of the 2010 CLUP is now available on LURC’s website.
WoodswiseWire
June 3, 2010
Review and comment on Draft State Forest Assessment and Strategy
We invite the public to review and comment on Maine’s draft State Forest Assessment and Strategy.
The Draft Forest Assessment provides information on forest conditions and trends and identifies the key issues and threats to forests statewide. It also identifies priority forest areas as required by the 2008 Farm Bill. The Draft Strategy describes the key statewide forest issues identified in the assessment and outlines objectives and strategies for addressing them. The Strategy supports Maine Forest Service’s statutory mission of promoting the sustainable use and protection of Maine’s forests.
Download a copy of the draft at http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/mfs/state_assessment/downloads/maine_assessment_strategy_public_comment_draft_06022010.pdf
Please note that some sections still require work and internal review and could change significantly.
Comments will be accepted through 10 June 2010. It will help us in our review if you are specific as to the document, page, and issue or strategy you are commenting on. You may submit comments through forestinfo@maine.gov. Please include “State Forest Assessment” in the subject line.
Thank you.
AUGUSTA, Maine—The Maine Conservation Department says it’s fined Plum Creek $38,675 for timber cutting violations.
The department said Wednesday that Plum Creek Maine Timberlands agreed to pay the penalty for improper harvest operations on its property that resulted in three clearcuts that did not have adequate separation zones or harvest plans prepared by a licensed forester.
Source: Boston.com
On June 8th, Voters will also be voting on Question 1 – the People’s Veto:
Question 1: is a People’s Veto of PL 2009, c. 382 “An Act To Implement Tax Relief and Tax Reform”)
“Do you want to reject the new law that lowers Maine’s income tax and replaces that revenue by making changes to the sales tax?”
CLICK HERE to Read the Changes to the tax law
CLICK HERE for the website of those OPPOSED to the Veto (No on 1)
CLICK HERE for the website from those IN FAVOR of the Veto (YES on 1)
In a nutshell, the law is a tax-shift increasing the number of items subject to sales tax and increasing the sales tax rate on meals & lodging. In exchange the income tax rate for residents would decrease from 8.5% to 6.5%, with a surcharge of an additional .35% on taxable income in excess of $250,000.
Editors Note: Personally, I’m not comfortable with what is in the bill as passed, I see too many ways the sales taxes could be revisited and increased later. I also am uncomfortable with the “progressive nature” of this tax plan. We should be looking for real tax reductions (and reduced spending) not a tax shift that in reality will be difficult to quantify and increase the cost of every day items. As a result I’ll be voting Yes to veto the bill. - M.A.B.
AUGUSTA- Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap wants voters to participate in next month’s election, and he’s encouraging people to take advantage of absentee ballots.
He says 217 cities and towns have opted to accept electronic absentee ballot requests, allowing voters to fill out and submit their absentee ballot requests online…
Click to Read More from Source: AP via Portland Press Herald
MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Senate has approved a redesign of a state program that taxes farm and forest land at a lower rate than residential and commercial property, sharply increasing the penalty for withdrawing property from the program.
Source: Business Week
