Professional Loggers Announce New Executive Staff

New Gloucester – Tom Cushman, President of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine and The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands announced this week the selection of Michael Beardsley as the new Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine and Elizabeth Postlewaite as the new Executive Director of The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands.

“Mike brings an extensive career in business, finance and advocacy to our association. His understanding of the business sector will be a huge asset to our association,” said   Cushman. He continued, “In addition, as a licensed Maine forester and experienced educator, Beth’s ability to take the Northeast Master Logger Program and the Trust’s programs to the next level is exciting.”

Leslie Beardsley has been hired as the association’s office administrator.

The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine and The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands are both 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, organizations based in New Gloucester, Maine.  The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine seeks to represent its members and improve the public image of harvesting natural resources through accountability and transparency. The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands was formed by the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine in 2003 to administer the Northeast Master Logger Certification program with the broader goal of enhancing the health of working forest ecosystems through exceptional accountability throughout the Northern Forest region.

49 Pineland Dr. Suite 201A, New Gloucester, ME 04260
Office: (207) 688-8195 | Fax: (207) 688-8197 |www.maineloggers.com | www.tcnef.org

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AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci today signed a proclamation declaring a State of Emergency that will allow an immediate change in truck weight limits on Maine’s Interstate highway system.
“Moving heavy truck traffic off Maine’s secondary roads and onto the Interstate that was built to handle them is a matter of public safety,” Governor Baldacci said. “Maine has been working for years on this issue. Now that the President and Congress have acted, we cannot wait to make the change. Every day we keep these trucks on small, secondary roads we increase the risk to the public.”
Before the Governor’s proclamation, almost 300 miles of Maine Interstate was limited to 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, despite the fact that there’s a 100,000-pound limit on Maine non-Interstate roads, and near or above 100,000-pound limits on roads in surrounding states and provinces.
On Dec. 16, President Obama signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010, which included a provision inserted by Maine Sen. Susan Collins and supported by the State’s entire Congressional Delegation that created a one-year pilot program raising weight limits on the Interstate system. Before the federal law change, Maine could not raise its limits.
During the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature, lawmakers unanimously passed a Resolution asking Congress to authorize the 100,000-pound trucks on all of Maine’s Interstate Highway System.
The change is expected to make Maine roads significantly safer. According to national statistics, 82 percent of commercial vehicle fatalities occur on non-Interstate roads. By allowing heavier trucks on the limited-access Interstate, the traffic is removed from towns and cities and smaller roads, where they pose a greater risk.
In addition to improving safety, the increased weight limits will help the environment and reduce costs for businesses in the State. According to estimates provided to the Maine Department of Transportation, trucks traveling on the I-95 are 14-21 percent more fuel efficient than the same trucks on secondary roads.
Moving heavy traffic to the Interstate is also expected to reduce wear-and-tear on Maine’s secondary roads and reduce bridge and pavement repairs by as much as $2 million per year.
Maine law, as previously prescribed by federal law, limits truck weight on portions of the Interstate to 80,000 pounds. The State of Emergency will allow the higher truck weights until legislation can be adopted in January.
The text of the proclamation follows.
WHEREAS, trucks on nearly 300 miles of Interstate highway in Maine have been limited by federal law to 80,000 pounds, despite the fact that the weight limit of states and provinces surrounding us, as well as the state’s primary and secondary highways, is at or near 100,000 pounds; and
WHEREAS, this disparity in truck weight limits often forces heavier trucks onto the state’s primary and secondary highway systems; and
WHEREAS, the state’s primary and secondary highway systems are not built to the same structural standards as the Interstate Highway System; and
WHEREAS, a recent study noted that the crash experience of 5- and 6-axle combination trucks was 7 to 10 times higher on Maine’s non-Interstate highways than on the Maine Turnpike, which is currently exempted from the federal weight limits; and
WHEREAS, national findings show that rural Interstate highways are 3 to 4 times safer than rural secondary roads; and
WHEREAS, 82% of commercial-vehicle related fatalities in Maine occur on non-Interstate roads, including a recent tragic accident in Aroostook County; and
WHEREAS, a recent study estimated that a federal truck weight exemption would remove an estimated 7.8 million loaded truck-miles of travel from Maine’s primary and secondary highway system each year, diverting the traffic to the safer Interstate highway system; and
WHEREAS, the US Congress enacted legislation creating a one-year pilot project to extend the federal truck weight exemption to the entire Maine Interstate Highway System; and
WHEREAS, the one-year pilot begins upon the signing of the legislation by the President; and
WHEREAS, in addition to increased safety, allowing a 100,000 pound 3-axle truck tractor in combination with a tri-axle semi-trailer on the Interstate Highway System could save up to $2 million annually in bridge and pavement costs on the state’s primary and secondary highways; and
WHEREAS, for the purposes of this pilot project, a 100,000 pound vehicle is defined as a 3-axle truck tractor in combination with a tri-axle semi-trailer; and
WHEREAS, the federal truck weight exemption would reduce Maine’s and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil by eliminating the need to divert to less direct routes and increasing payload capacities, thereby reducing the number of truck miles traveled; and
WHEREAS, the Maine Legislature in the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature passed a Resolution asking Congress to authorize the 100,000 pound trucks on all of Maine’s Interstate Highway System; and
WHEREAS, Title 29-A §2355 limits axle weights on the Interstate system-based upon 80,000 pounds, this pilot project will allow Maine general axle weight limits to govern axle weight restrictions on the interstate system for a 100,000 pound 3-axle truck tractor operating in combination with a tri-axle semi-trailer; and
WHEREAS, during this pilot project existing Maine laws governing 100,000 pound 3-axle truck tractor operating in combination with a tri-axle semi-trailer will apply to the Interstate system; and
WHEREAS, declaration of a State of Emergency enables the State to implement the federal pilot program, thereby increasing safety and lessening the burden on businesses and the State;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John Elias Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of Maine, find that these conditions constitute a civil emergency under 37-B MRSA section 742, and do hereby declare that a State of Emergency exists for the entire State of Maine
This Emergency Proclamation shall remain in effect until I have declared the emergency to have terminated, or as otherwise provided by law.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed this proclamation in Augusta this 17th day of December in the Year of our Lord Two Thousand and Nine
John E. Baldacci
Governor

Tom Cushman, President of The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine and the Trust to Conserve the Northeast Forest announced that it’s long time Executive Director, Sandra E. Brawders is retiring. Citing the extensive accomplishments made during her ten-year service, Tom said her uncanny ability to see into the future resulted in the Maine loggers creating the first in the world, Northeast Master Logger Certification program.He said, “Doing it before it was needed was tricky, however Sandy has a knack for planning for the unexpected, and in doing so, she has helped us influence the future.”

The Northeast Mast Logger Certification Program (NEMLC) offers third-party independent certification of logging companies’ harvesting practice. The certification system is built around standard that have been cross-referenced to all of the world’s major green certification systems. Http:www.masterloggercertification.com

Tom continued, “Her leadership allowed us loggers to keep focused firmly on production, the weather, the environment, equipment, our employee’s safety, and immediate day to day of business.

In response, Sandy shared, “I first became involved with the Maine logging association when asked by Tim Gammel of the American Pulpwood Association to develop a handbook for the “train the trainer” model for the Northeast and I fell head over heels with the smart, ethical discussions loggers and foresters were having at the workshops. And so it began. As an outsider to this industry I immedialy saw in 1999 that the loggers were not at the tables as the valuable voices in the changes that were already being documented. So I asked , myself how could we really and profoundly change that  The answer? Create performance standard expected of high performing, viable , sustainable company, whether that company was one person with a chainsaw or a 60 employee mechanical operation. High performance is high performance!

So as a partnership of many interested people who respected the logging profession, Maine PLC developed the Master Logger Third Party Certification program, the first in the world to define what the world could expect from professional logger in the forested landscape. To tell the story about this remarkable group for professionals who wake up every morning with a plan to make a living for themselves and their employees and who hung in there for ten years with a vision to be ready for the unexpected instead of facing change with constant crisis and survival strategies is proving true. I know of no other profession so prepared for what the world is about to ask them to do.”

She continued, “Forward thinking like this takes a leap of faith, I thank the NEMLC companies who applied for the program for good business reasons and in the early days out of complete faith that it was the right thing to do, those first 27 companies have my deepest prayers for prosperity in the days ahead. My admiration and respect is  undiminished  after ten years of working with, and for all of you . I now look forward to the time to write the articles and a book about the importance of third party certification including the complete supply chain”

Story by Rich Hewitt of The Bangor Daily News, click here:

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/115454.html

Interesting article by Lynda V. Mapes of the Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009588406_forest03m.html

http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineHeadlineNews/tabid/968/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3479/ItemId/8470/Default.aspx

The Maine Forest Service has expanded its temporary skidder bridge loaner program to southern Maine with the addition of a 25 foot steel bridge based out of the Hancock Lumber Mill in Casco.  The new bridge comes in three four foot wide panels.  Panels weigh approximately 3600 pounds each.  To check on Casco bridge availability or to arrange to borrow please contact Jeff Hall at (207) 329-9128.

Other loaner bridges, both wood and steel are available at locations in the Mid Coast, Southern Somerset county, Penobscot County, Washington County, Southern Piscataquis County and Southern Aroostook County. To check on bridge availability in your area contact Keith Kanoti at 287-1073 or keith.kanoti@maine.gov.

Bridge loan ground rules are as follows:

Bridges are on loan to logging contractors free of charge.

The logging contractor is responsible for picking up and returning the bridge to the agreed upon storage location unless other arrangements have been made. 

Even if only two panels are required the bridges will be moved to each location as a complete set. 

Bridges will be loaned for a maximum of 3 months unless other arrangements have been made.

The logging contractor using the loaner bridge is responsible for water quality protection and all regulatory compliance.

BMP’s appropriate to the site conditions will be used in bridge installation, use and removal.

The logging contractor will allow Maine Forest Service to inspect and document bridge installation.

http://www.ruraltech.org/pubs/reports/2009/wood_to_energy/index.asp

The Maine Forest Service’s Division of Forest Policy and Management, Department of Environmental Protection, and the Maine Municipal Bond Bank have teamed up to offer a mechanism to provide incentive financing to loggers that reduces non-point source pollution risk on timber harvests in Maine. Modeled after the Ohio Depa rtment of Natural Resources’ Silvicultural Direct Link Loan Program, the Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan Program utilizes Clean Water State Revolving Loan Funds to provide low-interest rate financing for Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs). The purpose of providing this financial incentive is to increase the use of BMPs and environmentally friendly logging equipment in the logging industry.

Under the Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan Program loggers who are either third party certified or agree to become third party certified within one year of the execution of the Direct Link Loan Agreement are eligible for an interest rate subsidy of up to 2% on loans up to $400,000 for purchases of eligible equipment.  

There is currently approximately $1,000,000 in additional funding now available for Direct Link Loan purchases.

For additional information about program requirements, to see a list of eligible equipment, and to find a list of participating lenders visit the Maine Forest Service Direct Link Loan website at: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/fpm/water/direct_link_loan/index.html

Or call or e-mail Keith Kanoti at 207-287-1073 or keith.kanoti@maine.gov

Nick Sambides Jr. of The Bangor Daily News reports:

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/110477.html