WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Topics: Executive bonuses at Fraser Papers while workers got pay cuts and company filed for bankruptcy,  in 2009.    Legislation to ban toxic DECA in plastic pallets and other pending environmental legislation.  An update on Plum Creek’s massive development plans in the Maine woods.

Guests:  Duane Lugdon, Union Rep. for Maine’s United Steelworkers;  Judy Berke, Natural Resources Council of Maine (www.nrcm.org)

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributor: Matt Murphy
Segment 1: Natural Resources Council of Maine & Maine Audubon’s press conference this morning in Bangor, where the Land Use Regulatory Commission was meeting for final deliberations on Plum Creek’s proposal for the largest development in the state’s history. Both groups have serious concerns about the proposal. FMI: www.nrcm.org
Segment 2: An interview with Bonny Myers, director of a production of “Nickel and Dimed” that will be held at the Grand in Ellsworth this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday. FMI: www.grandonline.org

 

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Producers/Hosts: Meredith DeFrancesco and Amy Browne

Topics: Plum Creek, logging deeryard, mining, mudslide, banning public,  LURC/CLUP, State Police refusal to release records on local activists

Guests: Hillary Lister, Lynne Williams, Emily Posner

 

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Producers/Hosts: Amy Browne & Meredith DeFrancesco

Segment 1: Maureen Drouin from Maine Conservation Voters talks about Maine’s Environmental Priorities Coalition– 27 environmental, conservation and public health organizations that have come together to set priorities for legislation to address climate change, mercury, pesticides, energy efficiency and protection of Maine’s land and rivers. (FMI: www.protectmaine.org)

Segment 2: Landowners and hunters in the Greenville area are reporting that Plum Creek Corporation is cutting near important winter deer yards, threatening the deer population in the area.  Charlie Baker’s family has lived in the area for generations.  We spoke with him by phone earlier today from his home in Shirley, Maine.

Segment 3: Concerned local landowners and hunters have approached the environmental group, Native Forest Network, hoping to find a way to prevent further destruction.   Ryan Clarke of the Native Forest Network joins us to talk about what that group is doing about the situation.  (FMI:  nfnmaine@gmail.com)

 

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Producers/Hosts: Amy Browne & Meredith DeFrancesco

Topic: Land Use Regulatory Commission (LURC) approval of Plum Creek development plan; Financial BailOut, Jack McKay, Rep. Mike Michaud

 

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Producers/Hosts: Meredith DeFrancesco & Amy Browne

Topics: Maine state Land Use Regulatory Commission (LURC) endorses Plum Creek development plan
*Maine Civil Liberties Union opposes motion to dismiss telecom cases

*Maine Civil Liberties Union opposes federal legislation that could limit healthcare services for birth control, abortion,end of life care and HIV treatment
Today we cover two stories that illicit reflection on how democracy works in our country and in our state.
We talk with the Maine Civil Liberties Union about challenging the National Security Agency’s right to use the Verizon phone company to gather information from Maine residents, regardless of the new national amendment to the FISA law.
But first, we go to the largest development plan this state has seen. It’s timber giant and now developer Plum Creek’s plan to rezone nearly 16,000 acres in the Moosehead Lake region for 975 house lots and two large resorts. Yesterday  Maine’s Land Use Regulatory Commission (LURC) endorsed that plan.
On Tuesday and Wednesday LURC heard closing comments from the many organizations, businesses and others who have been opposing or supporting the Plum Creek plan. But LURC already had it’s mind made up, or had been advised by it’s consultants what it should decide. Yesterday LURC endorsed Plum Creek’s development plan.

GUESTS:
1.Wendy Weiger, coordinator of Moosehead Region Futures Committee www.mooseheadfutures.org
2. Zachary Heiden, Legal Director, Maine Civil Liberties Union
www.mclu.org

 

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Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Topic: The last time we reported on Plum Creek’s proposal for a massive development in the Moosehead Lake region, the Land Use Regulatory Commission (LURC)—which oversees the unorganized territories of Maine— had just concluded a series of public hearings.    The next step was for LURC to take the comments and new information into account as they considered whether they would give their approval to Plum Creek’s plans.  Since that time they have come back with some recommendations for changes, and opened another comment period.    And today the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and Maine Audubon released suggestions for changes to help protect the Lily Bay area.

Logan Perkins and Ryan Clarke of the Native Forest Network join me in the studio, and Alan Bray, a resident of Sangerville, joins us by phone, with an update on Plum Creek’s development scheme for the Moosehead Lake Region.

Where is the Big Wilson old growth and how does it figure into Plum Creek’s plans?
Describe the area and what would be lost if it was logged or developed.  How can people join a hiking tour of the area?
What is the Native Forest Network’s  position— do LURC’s proposed changes address any of the concerns your group has about Plum Creek’s proposal?
What is the response to NRCM and Audubon’s Lily Bay proposal, released earlier today?

FMI: Logan Perkins, 207-615-5158; nfnmaine@gmail.com; savebigwilsonoldgrowth@blogspot.com; www.nrcm.org

 

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