I’m Fred Nutter with this WLBZ 2/WCSH 6 Editorial
Plum Creek, the woods land owners trying to develop two resorts and nearly a thousand house lots near Moosehead Lake got their knuckles wrapped for violating timber harvesting laws.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine, using the Freedom of Access Act published a long list of violations and complaints against Plum Creek. Plum Creek was fined $57,000 for violating timber harvesting laws, including cutting trees in fragile deer wintering yards.
Year-old emails from biologists express deep frustration with Plum Creek. Now, there has been a change of attitude, according to biologists, and Plum Creek is said to be more cooperative on the biological basis of what deer need.
Plum Creek’s development plan is under review by the state. Part of the plan includes 400,000 acres of permanent conservation. That, plus the additional tax resources the development should bring into the state will benefit us all.
But development must occur within the confines of law. The buzz line should be if you don’t like the law, get it changed, but don’t break it. The Natural Resources Council of Maine has done us all a favor by shining a light on Plum Creek.
That’s our opinion we welcome yours.
