Archives for Plum Creek

RadioActive 4/7/11

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Today we discuss five pesticide bills before the Maine legislature’s Joint Standing Committee Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Two bills being considered would essentially erase recently passed legislation. One would repeal the pesticide registry, which requires landowners to inform residents, within a certain distance, at the beginning of the season, that they can get on a list for aerial and air carrier pesticide spray notification. The second, would severely limit the distance within which landowners would be required to observe notification wishes, cutting it from a quarter mile to 100 feet.

Another bill before the committee seeks to restrict the use of herbicides and pesticides on the grounds of schools and childcare facilities.

This News Just In: The Maine Superior Court has just ruled to vacate the Land Use Regulatory Commission’s decision to grant Plum Creek’s development plan for the Moosehead Lake region. Attorney Phil Worden represented the Forest Ecology Network and RESTORE: The North Woods in this challenge to LURC’s decision. Chief Justice Humphrey called LURC’s action an “unauthorized, ad hoc procedure,” and concluded that the public was denied its legal rights to speak out on the final version of Plum Creek’s plan.

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RadioActive 3/10/11

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Today we examine the court challenge to the Plum Creek Development plan.

We talk with Phil Worden. He is the attorney for Forest Ecology Network and RESTORE: The Maine Woods, who are fighting to repeal the Land Use Regulatory Commission’s approval of the massive development plan in the Moosehead Lake region, which would include 1000 house lots and 2 large resorts. The development required the rezoning of close to 16,000 acres. Included in the proposal is the setting aside of approximately 600,000 acres for so-called conservation, though commercial logging and gravel and water extraction would be allowed there.

Initially, the Land Use Regulatory Commission was not satisfied with Plum Creek’s plan, and made changes before they approved it. They did not, however, re-open the new plan to the public adjudicatory hearing, which allowed interested parties to cross examine and present their own arguments. This is one of the main points of the suit. On February 24th, the Maine Superior Court heard final arguments on the merits of the case.

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RadioActive 2/18/10

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)

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RadioActive 1/29/09

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:  [email protected])

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RadioActive 9/25/08

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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