On Monday, May 21, the Gardiner Conservation Committee, Buildings and Grounds and Public Works will be planting trees purchased with a grant from Project Canopy at the Arcade Parking lot and on the Gardiner Common. Trees make our world a better place. They filter the air we breath, they give us shade on a hot day and healthy trees beautify our surroundings.

Volunteers are needed to fertilize, stake and mulch the new trees.

We will begin about 8:30 at the Arcade Parking lot. Bring a spade or rake or edger.

Please help!

Please support Valley Voice journalism by “LIKING” us on Facebook at the bottom of this page. Thank You!

Bipartisan Majority Rejects the Costly, Extreme, and Risky Proposal

Among its actions this week, the Legislature defeated a controversial “regulatory takings” bill that would have cost Maine taxpayers millions of dollars, caused a proliferation of lawsuits, and blocked future laws that may be necessary to protect Maine’s environment, people, and communities. This action came when the House and Senate voted to “indefinitely postpone” LD 1810—which means the bill is now officially dead.

“This risky, costly, and radical proposal would have undermined the laws that protect Maine’s environment and communities,” said NRCM Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim. “Despite a massive effort by lobbyists to force this dangerous bill through the legislature, a bipartisan majority held firm and refused to support it.  Common sense won the day over ideology.”

The original bill would have allowed property owners to receive payments from the State Treasury to compensate them for claimed losses in property values resulting from future land use regulations.  Property owners would be allowed to ignore Maine law if theState did not make the compensation payments.

Such proposals have been broadly defeated nationwide based on concerns about their high costs and negative consequences, and previous takings bills have been rejected by the Maine Legislature at least five times since 1995.

In March, a majority of the Judiciary Committee rejected LD 1810, and proposed a complete substitute that would avoid the litigation, costs, and harm to the environment that would have resulted from the bill. But supporters of the original bill worked relentlessly to keep their proposal alive. These efforts peaked during the week of April 9, when the Majority Report from the Judiciary Committee was blocked in the House, and the Minority Report was voted on instead, passing by a one-vote margin.  (See http://www.downeast.com/georges-outdoor-news/2012/april/knight-beating-takings)

Lobbyists then attempted for several days to force the bill forward in the Senate, but they faced a bipartisan block of 20 Senators—including Republican Senators Tom Saviello, Roger Katz, Chris Rector, and Earl McCormick—who were firmly opposed to the Minority Report.  The Senate adjourned at 2:30 a.m. on April 14 without taking a vote on LD 1810, leaving it to be considered when they reconvened May 15. When the bill finally was scheduled for consideration in the Senate, it was clear that supporters of the Minority Report had failed to recruit any additional support, so they offered a motion to “indefinitely postpone” the bill—and the House followed suit.

“We greatly appreciate the strong leadership provided by both Republicans and Democrats who saw the takings bill for what it was—a thinly veiled attempt to prevent the Legislature from passing laws in the future that will be needed to protect our communities, wildlife habitat, and the character of Maine,” said Maine Audubon’s Staff Attorney Jenn Burns Gray.

The Majority Report proposal from the Judiciary Committee was drafted by Rep. Brad Moulton (R-York) and Rep. Charles Priest (D-Brunswick), with input from Sen. Tom Saviello (R-Franklin), Rep. Bob Duchesne (D-Hudson) and other lawmakers.  This proposal would have created a Regulatory Fairness Committee to evaluate the impact of regulations on property owners and initiate legislative solutions.  The motions to indefinitely postpone the bill had the result of blocking adoption of the Majority Report.

“The takings bill finally hit the brick wall of reality,” said Sean Mahoney, Maine Director of the Conservation Law Foundation. “The Minority Report was so complex, convoluted, costly, and extreme that it would have been a disaster if passed into law.  We’re very pleased that a majority of Maine legislators understood this and voted to kill the bill.”

Maine taxpayers would have had to pay millions of dollars over time to fund implementation of the Minority Report.  The fiscal note over the first three years alone was pegged at $1.28 million, and this estimate did not include any of the funds that would be needed to pay possible compensation payments of up to $400,000 per case.

In the very few states in the U.S. that have adopted legislation anything like the Minority Report, studies have revealed that corporate interests, large-scale developers, and attorneys have been the primary beneficiaries. Former State Senator Peter Mills made this point to legislators this year, saying “The primary impact—and its intended impact—is to stymie regulation for the benefit of large landowners with ample resources to paralyze state agencies.  That is, in fact, how takings laws have been used in the few states that have enacted them.  It’s not a statute for the little guy.”

“The Minority Report would have created multiple paths for developers to receive waivers from Maine law, allowing them to build developments that otherwise would be illegal,” said Didisheim.  “Such waivers would have caused an unraveling of the laws that protect Maine’s environment and triggered lawsuits by people who suddenly learned that a massive development, waste dump, or energy project was landing next door to them because the developer had received a waiver from the law.”

“The Minority Report posed a major threat to Maine’s environmental safeguards,” said Maine Conservation Voters Executive Director Maureen Drouin. “That’s why defeating the bill was a top priority for people and organizations throughout Maine who love our clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.” The Maine Clammers Association, Congress of Lakes Association, Maine Municipal Association, and all of Maine’s major conservation and environmental organizations opposed the Minority Report for LD 1810.

Passage of takings bills like LD 1810 has been a high priority for the ultra-right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which has promoted model legislation to state legislatures since the early 1990s.

Please support Valley Voice journalism by “LIKING” us on Facebook at the bottom of this page. Thank You!

Reveals True Intentions to Bring Tar Sands Oil Toward Maine

Last night Canadian pipeline giant Enbridge announced plans for a massive increase in pipeline capacity to bring dirty tar sands oil from Canada to global markets via the United States. One of the biggest components of the plan is to reverse the flow of its entire crude oil pipeline between Ontario and Montreal, for the purpose of transporting tar sands crude oil east. This would be the full build-out of Enbridge’s portion of the so-called “Trailbreaker” pipeline project in development for several years. This announcement could bring tar sands oil nearly to New England. The rest of the original Trailbreaker plan would bring tar sands oil by also reversing the flow of an existing pipeline from Montreal to Portland, Maine.

“This announcement reveals Enbridge’s true intentions to bring tar sands oil to our region,” said Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “This is exactly why NRCM and others have been raising concerns since last August about dirty and dangerous tar sands coming our way. This announcement brings one of the world’s dirtiest fuels one step closer to Maine.”

In August 2011, Enbridge filed for fast-track approval of “Phase I” of this pipeline reversal. That fast-track request was rejected after NRCM and other groups opposed it, arguing that Enbridge was purposefully breaking a large pipeline project into smaller phases to attempt to hide their intentions. After months of preparation, the National Energy Board of Canada is scheduled to hold hearings next week in Ontario about the “Phase I” reversal. Given the new announcement of further expansion, it is unclear what will happen with these proceedings limited to “Phase I.”

“This announcement seems to prove that Enbridge was pursuing a deliberate strategy by Enbridge to avoid complete environmental review and public scrutiny for the full project,” said Voorhees. “Enbridge repeatedly said that it is no longer pursuing Trailbreaker, but their intentions are now obvious—the only thing that has changed is the name. Even now the public doesn’t have an honest picture from Enbridge and the Portland-Montreal Pipeline Company about the plan to bring tar sands oil from Ontario to Portland for export to global markets. This entire scheme deserves full scrutiny from environmental regulators and from the public.”

In April, 41,000 citizens from the U.S. and Canada, including several thousand from Maine, wrote comments to the Canadian Energy Board opposing “Phase I” of the Trailbreaker project and requesting a broader environmental review.

“This announcement is a massive proposal to bring huge amounts of one of world’s dirtiest fuels out of Canada to North America,” Voorhees said. “Not only does it have huge implications for U.S. energy policy and efforts to curb global warming, but tar sands could threaten Maine’s environment directly.” The oil pipeline from Montreal to Portland passes right alongside Sebago Lake, the drinking water supply to the entire Portland area. Tar sand oil is a thick, gooey substance that is more corrosive and acidic than conventional oil, making those pipes more susceptible to corrosion and bringing a higher risk of spills. And tar sands oil spills themselves are more toxic and difficult to clean up.

Yesterday’s announced expansion includes a proposed doubling in size of Enbridge’s Michigan pipeline, which in 2010 spilled 1.2 million gallons of tar sands crude into the Kalamazoo River—a massive spill that has still not been cleaned up and is still affecting local communities.

“What if a spill like the Enbridge Kalamazoo River fiasco happened here in Maine next to Sebago Lake?” asked Voorhees. “Maine people deserve to know the facts, not only about the full scope of this pipeline reversal, but about what kind of oil would flow through the pipeline and a clear assessment of the risks to Maine people and places.”

As further evidence of the piecemeal approach to Trailbreaker, Enbridge affiliates had separately applied for a permit to build a pumping station near the Vermont-Quebec border for the purpose of reversing the flow of oil between Montreal and Portland, Maine. That permit was initially denied in March, but a re-application by the company is expected.

Natural Resources Council of Maine
3 Wade St
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 430-0112 (Direct)
dylan@nrcm.org

The two-year Freeport study, published in 2012, is the most exacting analysis of water withdrawal from this watershed done to date, and the study approach already is being applied to another site, said Dr. Robert Marvinney, Maine state geologist and project manager.

“This is the most rigorous analysis of the impact of water withdrawals in this watershed, and it now provides watershed managers with a robust tool to consider future water-use scenarios under varying climatic conditions,” Marvinney said. “This effort married the respective strengths of the Maine Geological Survey (MGS) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in a well-coordinated and useful study.”

The newly developed computer model is “a detailed model of the aquifer system that explicitly shows how the groundwater system and streams interact in the study area,” said Martha Nielsen, USGS hydrologist and study author. “The purpose was to understand how climate and aquifer management affect overall water availability and changes in stream flow.”

The extensive study was directed by the Water Resources Planning Committee, a statewide advisory group composed of water professionals, such as water district officials, state and federal officials, commercial water users, environmental groups and geologists. Marvinney, the committee’s chairman, said the group meets several times a year to discuss water issues in Maine and to recommend where state agencies should focus resources and research.

A watershed is defined as a geographic area in which all precipitation flows to a common point such as a river or lake. In 2006, MGS did a study of smaller watersheds in Maine that had the potential for “too much water use for what was available,” Marvinney said. Out of 973 watersheds examined – each about 35 square miles in size – about a dozen sites, including Freeport, were shown to have relatively high water use compared to supply.

That earlier study “was used as a guidance tool for where we should focus additional work,” the state geologist said.

The Freeport watershed was chosen collectively for the detailed study, begun in 2009, because it is a relatively small watershed, at 19 square miles, with a use of 100 million gallons a year; it has a major water user, the Freeport Water District utility; and there is a well-defined aquifer, or underground water source, Marvinney said.

For Freeport, “the overall goal was to look at how ground water and surface water [flowing streams, ponds and rivers] are tied together and how withdrawals from ground water would affect surface-water flows,” the state geologist explained. Environmental water need for aquatic habitats also was taken into consideration along with human use, he said.

In building the computer model, the purpose was to look at different climate and demographic risks and pumping scenarios, he continued. “What happens if there’s a drought? What happens if the population grows? So managers can begin to use the model as a planning tool,” Marvinney said.

As part of the project, Dan Locke, MGS hydrogeologist and study author, made numerous stream-flow measurements during 2009 and 2010 at five sites along Harvey and Merrill brooks in the Freeport-Pownal area. The measurements were made under different flow conditions and through the changing seasons. He also compiled information on groundwater levels and oversaw the drilling of two new observational wells. In addition, the Freeport aquifer also was studied in detail to understand its dimensions and thickness of sand, gravel, mud and clay layers, Marvinney noted.

Compiling data into the computer model resulted in “the most detailed analysis we’ve done on a small watershed in Maine,” Nielsen said. As a result, “what we have now is a tool that can help water resources managers look at future impacts on water resources, as in drought conditions and population increases. It gives us a framework that we can use for other watersheds.”

For Freeport, the computer model indicates there is an adequate water supply to meet direct demand, both human and environmental, the state geologist said. “With current usage, there is not an issue of annual supply,” he said.

The same modeling approach now is being used in an investigation of the Branch Brook watershed in York County where data collection is under way, Marvinney said.

The state geologist pointed out that the USGS is initiating a water census for the entire nation, and the analytical approach, designed for small watersheds, “undoubtedly” could be used in the Northeast and the type of geology found there.

“Our work can be part of this national effort,” Marvinney said.

To view the Freeport report, go to: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5227

For a summary of the study, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/explore/water/sites/may10.htm

For more information about the Maine Geological Survey, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/explore/water/sites/may10.htm

Please support The Valley Voice by “LIKING” us on Facebook at the bottom of this post. Thank You!

Researchers find that harmful methane leaks into the air at twice the amounts estimated by the EPA.

(Christian Lagerek /Shutterstock)
From Pacific Standard Magazine

By Paul Tullis

The recent boom in U.S. natural gas production has been hailed as thecure to all America’s ills. Gas, its boosters say, can reduce household heating expenses, enhance energy security, create jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

That last part is crucial to winning over environmentalists. “Over its full cycle of production, distribution, and use, natural gas emits just over half as many greenhouse gas emissions as coal for equivalent energy output,” the green group Worldwatch Institute reported last August. But all of that may amount to a lot of hot air if researchers from Cornell University and the Environmental Defense Fund are right. Thanks to the little-known problem of methane leakage, in the short term at least, natural gas may be worse for the climate than other fossil fuels.

Natural gas is mostly methane, which is itself a heat-trapping greenhouse gas. And it leaks into the air at every point of the process of getting and using the fuel. The technology exists to capture the leaking gas at hydraulic fracturing – aka fracking – sites, but industry officials say it’s not worth the cost. With the price of natural gas having dropped 90 percent since 2005, that attitude is not likely to change soon.

Ramon Alvarez, a physical chemist who works at the Environmental Defense Fund, co-authored a study, published in April in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that compares the impacts of natural gas with gasoline, diesel, and coal on the climate. His conclusion: “The amount of methane released can affect whether or not natural gas is a better fuel for the climate than other fuels.”

In February, researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration analyzed air samples from a region of Colorado where a lot of gas is being extracted through fracking. They found the air contained twice as much methane as the EPA had estimated there would be, suggesting a lot more methane than previously thought was leaking during extraction.

NOAA’s findings lent support to an earlier study, by Cornell researchersRobert Howarth and Anthony Ingraffea, who found natural gas to be no cleaner than coal when you factor in methane leakage. But that study was heavily criticized by the gas industry and other Cornell researchers, who contended the estimates of methane leakage were too high. The EPA stepped into the debate in April when it issued air pollution standards that will force producers to reduce methane leakage caused by fracking by 25 percent.

Figuring out the net effect on climate change of natural gas, and how that compares to other fuel sources, is complicated. Methane is more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas most prevalent in the burning of coal and liquid transport fuels. But the methane doesn’t persist in the atmosphere as long.

That means, according to Alvarez, the methane emitted from powering a fleet of natural gas driven vehicles, for example, only presents a climate benefit over a gasoline-powered fleet after about 40 years. By his calculations, methane leakage would have to be cut by at least twice as much as the new EPA mandate for natural gas to become less harmful to the climate than gas or diesel in the short term. Compared to coal, though, he found climate benefits are immediate and increase over time.

Those figures, however, are based on the EPA’s official estimate that 2.4 percent of natural gas leaks out during production. When Alvarez and his co-authors ran their model using the median estimate from the Cornell study, 7 percent, natural gas for vehicle transport offers no benefits for at least 100 years. Compared to coal, natural gas would take 30 to 60 years to offer a benefit.

All of that may still seem to give natural gas the advantage. Not so, says James E. Hansen, the physicist who heads NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and is one of the earliest and most credible authorities to sound the alarm over global warming.

“If we reduce carbon dioxide emissions six percent a year starting in 2015,” he says, “we’ll level out at 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in about 2100.” Hansen and others believe 350 parts per million is the maximum amount of carbon dioxide the atmosphere can sustain for long periods without warming a disastrous 2º Celsius. The last time the planet was that warm—three million years ago—primates left Europe, alligators moved in, and the ocean was 25 meters above current levels–which would put Calcutta, Miami, and much of New York and Tokyo under water.

But even if we start bringing carbon dioxide levels down in the coming years, we may find ourselves in even worse shape if we accomplish it by switching wholesale to natural gas and releasing huge amounts of methane in the process. In the fight against climate change, Hansen maintains, time is one thing we don’t have.

More like this: Environment
Tags: Climate Change, Fracking, Methane, Natural Gas

Please “LIKE” The Valley Voice on Facebook at the bottom of this page. Thank You for your support!

Mark your calendars!!!

Including Unused Medications Plus– Television and Computer Monitor, E-waste recycling – BOTH FREE OF CHARGE

A regional 1-day Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event will be held on Saturday, May 19^th, 2012 at the Augusta Public Works Complex located at 55 North Street in Augusta.  The following communities are participating:  Augusta, Belgrade, Fayette, Gardiner, Hallowell, Manchester, Monmouth,  Readfield, Wayne, and Winthrop.   Kennebec Valley Council of Governments is assisting with project coordination. Residents of these communities need to register with their individual town.  Pre-registration is required.

Environmental Projects Inc. of Auburn, Maine will collect, recycle, and dispose of household hazardous materials.

E-waste Solutions of Auburn, Maine will collect and recycle televisions, computer monitors, and e-waste free of charge, limit of 7 pieces per vehicle.

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area along with Community Pharmacies will collect unused, unwanted, outdated medications.  All medication will be disposed of in an environmentally appropriate manner. Leave medications in original containers, feel free to black out personal information on the container.

More detailed information on what items that can be brought to this drop-off event are available at your local town office.  Information is also posted on many of the communities web pages.

Augusta 2012 HHW Brochure.pdf
93K   View Download

Augusta 2012 HHW Brochure.pdf
93K   View Download

Starting this month, a total of 955 distinctive, purple bug traps will be placed high up in the canopy of local ash trees at specified locations to see if the emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive insect that has destroyed millions of acres of ash trees in other parts of the U.S., is present in Maine.

The survey – the 2012 National Cooperative Emerald Ash Borer Survey in Maine– is the collaboration of federal, state and tribal agencies, with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is part of a national survey effort taking place in 46 states. Because of the insect’s potential adverse impact throughout Maine, the survey also is supported by numerous private businesses and landowners.

Agriculture Commissioner Walt Whitcomb emphasized the importance of the survey, commenting that “we’re heading off an invasion.” He stressed the value of ash trees in Maine, describing the species as a “much-desired tree” that he personally has harvested around his farm.

Whitcomb also praised the collaborative survey effort, saying, “It’s an example of how we work in the state.” Preventing  in Maine the kind of devastation that has occurred in other states “is worth the effort of all our agencies and the public,” the commissioner said

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a highly destructive insect not yet found in Maine that has destroyed millions of acres of trees in other Midwest and eastern states and Canadian provinces, including New York and Quebec.

The survey project in Maine is a combined effort of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Maine Department of Agriculture; Maine Forest Service (MFS), under the Maine Department of Conservation; and the Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources. The cost of the federally funded survey is about $90,000, with in-kind services provided by the three Maine agencies.

Earlier this year, MFS Forest Rangers found most of the sites, and all cooperating agencies will begin hanging the traps this month. The sites include trees at private businesses and lands, state parks, and campgrounds. A high proportion are being placed in Franklin and Oxford counties, determined by the USDA to be high-risks zones because they are within 100 miles of Quebec and the Catskill Mountains in New York, both infested areas.

The purple traps will be monitored in July and then again in September, when they will be removed. The analysis of the traps’ contents should be completed by December, according to state entomologists.

Introducing Thursday’s event, Colleen Teerling, Maine Forest Service forest entomologist, stressed the need for public awareness. “Having people look for [EAB] is great,” she said. Pointing out that the Maine Forest Service welcomes public support and reports of possible invasive insect infestations, Teerling said that so far those reports have been of a harmless nature and just “look-alike” insects.

Terry Bourgoin, State Plant Health director, with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, also commented on the combined effort and noted the economic and cultural loss to Maine should the EAB become established in this state. In particular, he cited the loss to American Indian culture, as ash is used byMaine tribes to make traditional baskets.

Rick Abare, Maine Campground Owners Association (MECOA) executive director, said his organization, which includes about 200 members, was very supportive of the survey effort.

“Tourists love Maine, love the forests of Maine, and we want to keep them,” Abare said, adding that protecting Maine’s forests “is very important to our industry.”

Some 35 traps will be placed at Maine campgrounds as part of the survey. Campground owners also have actively supported the Maine Legislature’s ban on out-of-state firewood – one of the primary ways EAB is spread — by providing local firewood to campers.

“This is an opportunity for the public-private partnership that is so important today,” Abare noted.

To report suspected findings in Maine, call: (207) 287-2431 or 1-800-367-0223 (in state).

For more information on EAB, go to:

http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/InvasiveThreats.htm
http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pi/pestsurvey/pestinfo/EAB/EAB.htm
www.purpleEABsurvey.info

National Cooperative EAB Survey in Maine
Fact Sheet

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a small, metallic-green, wood-boring beetle from Asia that has invaded North American forests:

 It is believed that EAB hitchhiked to the U.S. in solid wood packing material used to import goods from Asian countries. EAB also is known to spread through moving firewood.

 EAB was first found in Michigan in 2002.

 There currently are EAB infestations in 15 states and two Canadian provinces. The closest infestations to Maine are in New York and Quebec.

 The emerald ash borer has not been found in Maine.

There are almost 424 million ash (white and black ash species) trees in Maine; ash makes up 4 percent of all Maine hardwood, and 2 percent of all tree species in Maine.

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2012 Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Survey will employ the purple, prism-shaped tree “trap” to monitor known EAB infestations and locate other unknown beetle populations. Using risk-based survey strategies, approximately 50,000 traps will be deployed in 46 states at specified sites.

The Maine agencies involved with this program include: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Maine Department of Agriculture; Maine Forest Service, under the Maine Department of Conservation, including about 50 MFS Forest Rangers; and the Penobscot Indian Nation.

The EAB survey is funded by USDA-APHIS at $90 a trap, with in-kind services provided by Maine Forest Service, Maine Department of Agriculture and Penobscot Indian Nation.

A total of 955 EAB traps will be placed around Maine: 115 by USDA-APHIS; 50 by MeAg; 60 by Penobscot Indian Nation; and the remaining, 730, by MFS.

MFS Forest Rangers found most of the sites, and all cooperating agencies will begin hanging the traps this month (May). The sites include trees at private businesses and lands; state parks, and campgrounds.

 A high proportion are in Franklin and Oxford counties, determined to be high-risks zones because they are within 100 miles of Quebec and the Catskill Mountains in New York, all infested areas (see map).

Details about the purple trap:

 The traps are sticky and contain two chemicals that smell like ash trees to EAB;

 The color purple is slightly attractive to EAB;

 EAB is attracted to the silhouette of the trap; the trap shape mimics the trunk of the tree;

 The trap is hung high in the tree because EAB attacks the tree crown and works down.

 The trap attracts only from the site tree and neighboring trees and won’t cause an infestation.

Project Timeline:

May – traps are hung

July – traps are monitored for EAB

September – traps are monitored and removed

November/December – analysis completed

http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/InvasiveThreats.htm

http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pi/pestsurvey/pestinfo/EAB/EAB.htm

www.purpleEABsurvey.info

Report Suspected Findings in Maine to: (207) 287-2431 or 1-800-367-0223 (in state)

Please Support The Valley Voice by “LIKING” us on Facebook at the bottom of this post. Thank You!

The rule making proceeding was initiated in the summer of 2010 when Maine’s Citizen’s Task Force on Wind Power brought a citizens’ petition to the Board of Environmental Protection (BEP). Friends of Maine’s Mountains (FMM) Attorney Rufus Brown assembled a team of experts and presented a solid case for enhanced protection from turbine noise emissions. Despite steadfast opposition by the wind lobby, the BEP heeded the testimony of experts, citizens and those who are suffering from the effects of wind turbine noises, and in September they provisionally adopted new rules.

In March, Maine’s 125^th Legislature overwhelmingly approved the stricter noise rules for industrial wind turbine noise emissions. All future wind projects in Maine, either in the jurisdiction of the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) or the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), will be subject to the safer standards. The major change is a night time sound limit of 42 decibels instead of the prior 45 decibels. The new rule also improves protection relative to Short Duration Repetitive Sounds (SDRS), which are best defined as undulating high and low sounds.

“We are pleased to know that if more wind projects are built, they will be located in areas where they will have a lesser negative impact on people,” said FMM President, Chris O’Neil.

While less restrictive than what citizens originally requested and what leading experts believe is necessary to protect health and quality of life, this standard is a definite and positive step in the right direction. Due to this new sound standard, wind projects built in Maine will be less likely to be sited close to homes. The new rule will not apply to existing wind projects that were permitted according to the old noise standards.

Attorney Rufus Brown stated that, “We are pleased that the BEP was willing to spend time examining the noise issue which was a consistent concern and was willing to do something about it. While the BEP did not go as far as we felt necessary, the rule that was adopted today was a step forward and sets a foundation for further examination of this important issue in the future.”

FMM applauds the BEP, the Maine Legislature, and the citizens of this state for their efforts to protect humans from the harmful effects of noise from industrial wind turbines.

Friends of Maine’s Mountains,  P.O. Box 60,  Weld, Maine  04285   (207)585-2005

Please “LIKE” The Valley Voice by Supporting us on Facebook at the bottom of this post. Thank You!

Pelletco is creating jobs and keeping dollars local, all actions supporting Pelletco’s mission of Making Energy Local. “Together we can support the local economy with renewable, sustainable resources,” she said. Tom Wood, senior planner for the Maine Department of Forestry, supports the use of wood products and commented, “It’s a renewable, clean, efficient energy source and it gets us off the oil bandwagon.”

Offering its patent under a licensee opportunity, pellet mills can produce higher BTU energy per pound, and save on fuel delivery costs, according to Elizabeth Fossett, Pelletco’s business development manager. Pelletco is currently focused on bulk production for commercial and institutional users in Maine and the Northeast, expanding to the residential pellet market later.

Extensive research went into the development of Pelletco’s patents, conducted through the University of Maine at Orono and independent, third-party laboratories. Case studies to measure the increased performance of the pellet fuel were conducted at Poland Regional High School and the Mechanic Falls Town Office buildings in Maine. The Poland school, which has a wood chip boiler and uses high moisture green wood chips, is unable to operate on warm days. The blending of Pelletco fuel with the green wood chips allows the school to operate the boiler longer, extending the heating season and saving the school money. “No question that we saved money, and going forward we can make a bigger savings and lengthen the heating season with Pelletco pellets,” Tony Bennett, Poland Regional High School’s maintenance director, said recently. “We wouldn’t be able to do it with just chips; and that’s a given.”

Pelletco pellet product is “unique in its durability and BTU value,” said Kyle Michael, owner of Power & Steam in Vassalboro, ME, an independent consultant hired to design the case study for Pelletco. “High moisture content has the greatest negative effect on boiler efficiency so the ability to mix the high BTU water-resistant Pelletco fuel is critical. We measure operating efficiency and found that Pelletco composite fuel performed consistently better than biomass alone.”

Testing of Pelletco pellets conducted in a commercial pellet boiler installed in the Mechanic Falls Town Office building by Northline Energy showed the pellets had improved CO levels. In addition, the higher BTU fuel per pound will save the town in fuel costs and transportation. “We hope that our reliance on foreign oil will be significantly less in future years,” John Hawley, Mechanic Falls town manager, commented.

For more information on converting to biomass pellet heating or Pelletco, contact Elizabeth Fossett at efossett@thepelletco.com or visit www.pelletco.com.

Please support The Valley Voice by “LIKING” us on Facebook at the bottom of this post. Thank You!

Tar Sand Mine

Portland, Maine—The Canadian National Energy Board today closed public input on the proposed Line 9 Reversal Phase I tar sands pipeline project after receiving more than 41,000 citizen comments in opposition. A coalition of 11 groups, including Environment Maine, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Sierra Club Maine, ENE (Environment Northeast), and Conservation Law Foundation, submitted the comments, which focus on the environmental and public health dangers presented by the tar sands project and the need for a comprehensive environmental and public safety review. If fully completed, the tar sands pipeline reversal could threaten the Androscoggin River, Sebago Lake, and Casco Bay.

Canada’s National Energy Board is reviewing a proposal by Canadian oil giant Enbridge to reverse the flow direction of a portion of its aging 62-year-old pipeline to move tar sands crude approximately 125 miles across Ontario. The full length of “Line 9” extends from Sarnia, Ontario to Montreal, Quebec.

The groups criticize the project as an effort by the company to build the shelved “Trailbreaker” tar sands pipeline in segments to avoid comprehensive environmental review. In 2008, Enbridge announced its Trailbreaker pipeline proposal to move tar sands crude from mining operations in Alberta through Ontario and Quebec and across New England to Portland, where the crude would be loaded onto tankers for export to refineries on the East Coast or overseas. The company put Trailbreaker on hold in 2009.

As recently as October 2011, pipeline companies were once again discussing the Trailbreaker plan in the press (albeit without using that name.) Enbridge now denies that this aptly named “Phase 1” reversal is part of the larger Trailbreaker project, but is not ruling out reversing the flow of oil along the entire route. A pumping station required to reverse the flow of the pipeline between Montreal and Portland failed to get a permit in March, 2012.

The National Energy Board can order an investigation of the full environmental impact of the larger project, including the safety impacts of a tar sands pipeline to the environment, waterways, and communities, and climate pollution from tar sands.

“The Trailbreaker project would use an old U.S. pipeline built in 1950 that cuts through mile after mile of Maine’s pristine rivers, lakes, and open spaces. The higher temperatures and pressures needed to move tar sands through the pipeline would significantly increase the risk of the pipeline leaking or rupturing. The effects could be devastating to the Androscoggin River, Sebago Lake, and Casco Bay,” said Environment Maine Director Emily Figdor.

An Enbridge pipeline carrying tar sands spilled more than 840,000 gallons of sludge into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River in 2010, causing health problems and widespread damage to the ecosystem. Crews are still struggling to clean up the spill.

“It is highly risky to pipe the world’s dirtiest source of oil across Maine, along Sebago Lake to Portland Harbor,” said Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “A tar sands pipeline would threaten Sebago Lake, which supplies drinking water to more than 15% of Maine people.”

“Pumping dirty tar sands oil through Maine to Portland Harbor is a dangerously irresponsible proposal,” said Glen Brand, Sierra Club Maine Director. “A leak on the scale of the Kalamazoo River spill into Maine’s rivers, lakes, or coast would be catastrophic for Maine communities and our tourism and fisheries industries.”

“Importing dirty, high carbon tar sands crude into this region runs directly counter to decades of concerted efforts by Maine and the other New England states to reduce carbon pollution,” said Beth Nagusky, Maine Director for ENE (Environment Northeast). “Policies such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Renewable Portfolio Standards, and Clean Fuels Standard discourage use of high carbon fuels such as tar sands.”

More information on the Trailbreaker pipeline proposal is available in a factsheet linked here. The coalition of U.S. and Canadian public interest and environmental groups leading efforts to stop the Trailbreaker pipeline include:

350.org 

Conservation Law Foundation

Environmental Defence Canada

Environment Maine

ENE (Environment Northeast)

Équiterre

Friends of the Earth

Natural Resources Council of Maine

Natural Resources Defense Council

National Wildlife Federation

Sierra Club

Please “LIKE” The Valley Voice at the bottom of this page. Thank You for your support!

Today, at a special meeting at the Four Points Hotel in Bangor, the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) voted to deny a permit to First Wind of Boston (Champlain Wind LLC) for their proposed Bowers Mountain wind project.

FMM commends PPDLW, a grass-roots citizens’ group organized to preserve a region rich in scenic natural resources. The Downeast Lakes region has a centuries-long history of traditional commerce founded on nature-based tourism. Due to PPDLW’s leadership and the participation of hundreds of citizens across Maine, the area’s natural resources, history and primary economic engine have been successfully protected.

LURC Commissioners considered the benefits and drawbacks of the Bowers wind project over the course of many months. This was not a decision arrived at lightly. FMM appreciates LURC’s diligence and patience and the commitment Commissioners have shown as they juggled the misguided directives of the Wind Energy Act with Maine’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Long before the decision document was signed by LURC, John Lamontagne, Director of Communications for First Wind, stated that the company will modify the Bowers application and resubmit it later this year. But Maine citizens-especially locals and tourists to the Downeast area, as well as professionals whose jobs depend on the region’s rich scenic resources-know that such impacts cannot be mitigated with a “modified” project.

If it becomes necessary, FMM will most assuredly stand behind PPDLW, which has vowed to continue to protect the extraordinary Downeast Lakes Watershed from the adverse affects of industrial wind.

Contacts: Chris O’Neil, 590-3842 or Karen Pease, 628-2070 or 340-0066

Friends of Maine’s Mountains
PO Box 60, Weld, ME 04285
(207) 585-2005
www.friendsofmainesmountains.org

Please “LIKE” The Valley Voice on Facebook at the bottom of this page. Thank You for your support!

Emmie Theberge of Augusta caught this brown trout on Cobbossee Lake in January 2011, NRCM photo.jpg

Augusta, Maine (March 27, 2012) – Near-record warmth in the winter of 2011-2012 left wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts and the businesses in winter-based sectors scrambling to adapt – and it’s just a preview of what’s to come in a warming world, according to a new report from the National Wildlife Federation. On Thin Ice: Warming Winters Put America’s Hunting and Fishing Heritage at Risk tells the stories of how 2011-2012’s warm winter impacted hunters and anglers across America.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release draft rules under the Clean Air Act that would limit climate-changing carbon pollution from power plants. As with other aspects of the Clean Air Act, there will likely be enormous pressure on Congress from the coal industry and their allies to impede real action to address carbon pollution. This past “winter” and today’s report indicate Maine can ill afford to ignore the changing climate until it is too late.

“Climate change is here, it’s hurting our outdoor traditions, and it’s past time for our elected officials to take action to cut climate-changing carbon pollution,” said Lisa Pohlmann, executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “Climate change is a threat to Maine’s economy. Hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching support thousands of jobs and generate $1.3 billion in economic activity every year, and snow-dependent sports contribute too.”

This winter illustrated the problems that mild and low-snow winters can have on Maine people, including:

·Difficult seasons for ski areas and related businesses, especially for cross-country skiing.

·Canceled ice fishing derbies and reduced opportunities for safe ice fishing.

·Reduced production and revenues for smelt operators, maple syrup producers, and others.

·Harmful conditions for game species, including moose and turkey.

·Increased populations of Lyme disease-bearing ticks.

·Lost sales for winter-recreation goods and services, such as coats, outdoor equipment, bait, and food and lodging for snowmobilers—including from out-of-state visitors.

Moose in Sandy River Plantation. NRCM Photo.JPG

Earlier this month, the Bangor Daily News reported that the mild winter weather had eaten into LL Bean’s sales of skis, coats, and other outdoor gear. In the story, LL Bean spokeswoman Carolyn Beem was quoted as saying, “When you have a winter that was as dramatically un-winterlike as this one, then it  does have a definite impact on the business.”  With its 5,000 employees, the company is one of Maine’s largest employers.

Along the Kennebec River, the economic pinch is felt by the smelt camp owners and local businesses. Sonny, owner of Sonny’s Smelt Camps in Richmond, says, “The ice came two weeks late and the first two weeks are generally the best ice fishing for smelt. That really hurt me and I’m just breaking even now. Not only did we have a late start, we had to close three weeks early. We only got about 3.5-4 weeks this winter.”

Roger Knight of Knight’s Bait Shop in Raymond agrees, “We just didn’t have the ice we normally do. It’s really hurting all the businesses up here.”

“Over the last few years, and particularly in the winter, Maine Huts & Trails has seen significant growth in the number of visitors to our system,” said David Herring, Executive Director of Maine Huts & Trails. “That growth was definitely slowed this winter due to the lack of snow. Our winter season never really gained the momentum we needed it to this year and we saw decreases in visitors in January, February, and March compared to the same three months in 2011. We are currently crafting plans to ensure we do everything we can to make up for our budget shortfall in the remainder of the year with a strong emphasis on the summer and fall tourism months.”

“The way I see it, global warming wrecked my duck season,” said Sam Day, a youth hunter from Hallowell.  “This year, the incredibly warm temperatures made Maine’s duck hunting season the worst I’ve experienced. The warmer winters have messed with our waterfowl migration. I wonder what it will be like 30 years from now? I am very concerned about the impacts of global warming on hunting in Maine.”

Well-known Maine Guide and longtime outdoor writer, Stu Bristol, has never seen anything like it. “Many of the better-known winter ice fishing derbies have been canceled,” said Stu. “And take a look at the Maine Pike. There aren’t any snow machines on trailers headed north these Friday afternoons. Our whole economy is being impacted by the mild temperatures this winter.”

Sebago Lake Rotary Club’s annual mid-winter fishing derby brings up to 10,000 fishermen to the lake. Rotarian and derby organizer Tom Noonan said this is the fourth winter since 2002 that the derby had to be canceled due to quickly deteriorating ice conditions.

“I know when my granddad made syrup commercially in the ‘60s and early ‘70s they always planned on making syrup around the 12th or 15th of March,” says Rodney Hall, owner of Hall Farms Maple Products in East Dixfield. “We’re probably two weeks earlier now. And with this mild winter, our season ended three weeks ahead of schedule. Last year we made over 1,000 gallons of syrup, and this year we made about half that. I’m worried about these warming winters not just for my business, but also because they threaten the outdoor tradition of tapping maple trees.”

Hikers at Sugarloaf. Photo by Jeff Aceto.JPG

“This year the ski season is drawing to an unseasonably early end,” said Paul Marshall, a member of the ski patrol at Sunday River. “We’ve had to close some trails almost a month earlier than last year. Just two weeks ago, we had 100% of our trails open. And less than a week later we had to shut down nearly half of them.”

“Warmer winters are a serious problem for those of us in the forest products industry,” said Harry Dwyer, a 30-year veteran logger, licensed forester, and certified master logger. “We need cold weather and snow cover to have a good logging season, but the back and forth freezing and thawing this winter made it made it very difficult to take on work. We only had about four straight weeks of real winter conditions instead of the usual 14. This eats into our income and means there is less work for loggers. In the last eight or so years, the tick population is also so rampant that it has introduced a new hazard to our work.  In addition, mud season can come any time of year now – both at the beginning of the season since fall rains are increasing, and at the end when the frost melts. We can’t get out to work when it is that wet. Landowners won’t tolerate two-foot ruts across their property.”

“We have been seeing the effects of climate change on Maine winters for many years,” said Gordon Hamilton, Associate Professor and glaciologist from the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine.“Unusual weather patterns are likely to become the norm due to changes in climate altering the trajectories of the jet stream and storm tracks.”

According to NOAA’s records for Portland:

·This winter was the 2nd warmest on record—nearly 5 degrees warmer than normal.

·  Snowfall was half the normal amount—8th least snowiest in the past 132 years of snowfall records in Portland. (23.5 inches compared to 44.4 inches)

And nation-wide NOAA says:

·America had its 4th-warmest winter on record.

·27 states across the Northern Plains, Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast had winter temperatures among their 10 warmest on record.

· Snow cover during winter ranked as the 3^rd-smallest on record

Natural Resources Council of Maine: Protecting the Nature of Maine

National Wildlife Federation: Celebrating 75 years of inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.

Read the full report at www.nrcm.org/On.Thin.Ice.NWF.asp

Natural Resources Council of Maine
3 Wade Street, Augusta, ME 04330

Please “Like” The Valley Voice at the bottom of this page. Thank you!

Natural Resources Council of Maine

MAINE CAN “BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER” THANKS TO EPA’S PROPOSED CARBON POLLUTION STANDARD

Maine Groups Support New Safeguards to Hold Polluters Accountable and Help Protect the Health of Maine People and Our Environment

Today, Maine people breathed a little easier after the Environmental Protection Agency and Obama Administration released a proposal to limit carbon pollution from new power plants, which is essential to improve the health of Maine kids and our environment.

“Every year, power plants dump more than two billion tons of dangerous carbon pollution and other pollutants into the air. The standard announced today will establish the first national limits on carbon pollution from new power plants and help protect people, kids, wildlife, and our environment from climate change and air pollution” said Lisa Pohlmann, executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine.  “Maine’s senators and Congress people should support these rules and not put corporate polluters’ profits ahead of our health.”

Maine people are showing their support for the new carbon rules, saying the EPA is doing its job under the Clean Air Act — and holding power plants accountable for the amount of pollution they spew into the air.

“Maine families want the EPA to protect us from dangerous air pollution from power plants,” said Laurie Osher, board president of Maine Interfaith Power and Light. “Today’s announcement shows that America is working to do our part to reduce climate changing carbon pollution.”

“EPA’s proposal is a major step in moving our country toward a cleaner energy future, and Mainers will be counting on Senators Collins and Snowe to support these new health and efficiency standards on power plants,” said Glen Brand, director of Sierra Club Maine.

“We are pleased that the EPA and Obama Administration stood up to the big polluters that have been working to block clean air standards,” said Karen D’Andrea, executive director of Maine Physicians for Social Responsibility. “Doctors, nurses, and other health experts say that carbon pollution is particularly dangerous for children because it increases smog, which triggers asthma attacks and permanently damages children’s lungs.”

In addition to strictly limiting industrial carbon pollution and protecting public health, many say these new standards will also spark innovation in clean technologies and create green jobs here in America.

Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled E.P.A. must regulate climate changing pollutants. The standards announced today will limit carbon pollution from new power plants. The EPA is also working to develop standards to cut carbon pollution from existing power plants, and is expected to issue a draft proposal for existing plants later this year or early next year.

Maine Department of Agriculture State Horticulturist Ann Gibbs accepting the Outstanding Invasive Species Outreach and Education Award for 2012 on behalf of the Forest Pest Outreach and Survey

The Outstanding Invasive Species Outreach and Education Award for 2012 was presented during National Invasive Species Awareness Week in early March, at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, DC. The award was given “in recognition of FPOSP’s significant achievement in advancing the awareness and understanding of terrestrial invasive species.”

The cooperative interagency group is composed primarily of state and federal forest health and agricultural resource managers, who work with non-governmental partners to form a broad partnership. This has produced a comprehensive, coordinated, region-wide forest pest outreach and detection program. The project, funded by the USDA, began in 2009 with nine states in the Northeast, and has since expanded to 15 states, some as far away as Minnesota.

In accepting the award for FPOSP, Maine Department of Agriculture State Horticulturist, and a project co-lead, Ann Gibbs said, “This project clearly demonstrates the importance of partnerships in dealing with forest pests. Most new detections of invasive forest pests, including ALB and EAB, have been made by members of the public. It is therefore very important that government agencies work together with the public as we try to manage these pests. This project has provided the opportunity for networking across the state and a large region of the country.”

Some of Maine’s accomplishments include:

• Organizing governor proclamations promoting August as ALB awareness month
• Using trained volunteers to conduct invasive insect detection surveys in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, and Sebago Lake State Park
• Providing information to producers on ALB for Maple Syrup Sunday
• Working with Acadia National Park and state parks to develop outreach sessions on forest pests • Using award-winning costumes at events and helping publish a children’s book on ALB written by fifth grade students from China Middle School
• Providing information to the woodlands division of JD Irving that they sent out to their wood suppliers
• Facilitated showing the documentary “Lurking in the Trees” on the Maine Public Broadcasting Network

It is important to note that, to date, neither ALB nor EAB has been found in Maine.

Please “Like” The Valley Voice at the bottom of this page. Thank You!

On Thursday, April 5 at 7:00 p.m., the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) is sponsoring an evening with Chuck Keeney, a West Virginia activist and labor and environmental justice historian, who will talk about the impacts of mountaintop removal mining, what the people of Appalachia are doing to stop it, and how citizens can help here in Maine. The event will take place in Smith Auditorium in Sills Hall, at Bowdoin College in Brunswick.

NRCM’s former executive director, Brownie Carson, will introduce Chuck. They met while marching 50 miles across West Virginia last June as part of the march on Blair Mountain protest.

This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited, so please RSVP online at http://supporters.nrcm.org/site/Calendar?id=101021&view=Detail or by email or telephone to Emmie Theberge at emmie@nrcm.org or (207) 430-0105.

Mr. Keeney will describe the struggle to stop mountaintop removal and to protect the homeland and jobs of residents of Appalachian coal country. He will speak about how people from the community and beyond have come together to save Blair Mountain from destruction by Alpha Natural Resources, one of the nation’s most powerful coal companies.

Keeney is president of Friends of Blair Mountain, a citizens group dedicated to preservation of the site of the 1921 battle. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, Blair Mountain was later removed because of pressure from the coal industry.

Keeney’s great grandfather, Frank Keeney, was president of United Mine Workers District 17 and a leader of the 1921 march by 10,000 coal miners, which ended in the Battle of Blair Mountain, 50 miles south of Charleston. Keeney will tell the story of this little known battle, the biggest armed conflict in American labor history. He will also describe the 2011 march on Blair Mountain, which he helped organize and lead.

Brownie Carson, NRCM’s former executive director who met Keeney during the 2011 Blair Mountain march, says, “Chuck Keeney provides an inspiring voice in the campaign for social and environmental justice in West Virginia and throughout Appalachia, and we are happy to have him come to Maine to help build a bridge between our communities and strengthen all of our efforts.”

This is event is hosted by the Bowdoin College McKeen Center.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine, www.nrcm.org

A “little critter” examines a trail signpost at Acadia National Park. PHOTO CREDIT: Rex Turner

By Rex Turner, Outdoor Recreation Planner
Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands

As I pour hot water from my well-traveled vacuum bottle in to the bottle’s cup, steam rises into the air.  This steam could be floating up into the icy overhang of a snowed-in Appalachian Trail shelter, or it could be being ripped sideward by chill winds racing down a wild, streamside flush with snowmelt.

It is not doing either of these things, nor is it doing anything else romantic and exciting in breathtaking places. Nope. This steam is swirling upwards around a baby bottle sitting in the small container of hot water. As the steam wafts away towards magazines, boxes of cat food, headache medicine, and the multitudes of other items in the local Target, it hits me that my little critters – both still in diapers – really do affect my adventures. Though as most parents can attest, just getting kids out of the house to run errands can be an adventure itself!

Before I give the impression that I have nicknamed my two kids “Ball” and “Chain,” let me say that when it comes to family time, small outdoor adventures are no less enjoyable and rewarding than backcountry outings. Rather, “tame” outdoor outings can be big time adventures for little ones, and there is a real, vicarious thrill to seeing your kids experience natural wonders, even if those wonders are taking place only a short distance down a trail or in front-country settings such as small community parks.

So, while there are thousands of acres toward which I could point people for backcountry excitement, let me instead share a few easy places in our Maine state parks and public lands where you can take young kids to explore nature and have fun.

Our state parks provide unique opportunities for families to mix and match their outdoor fun and adventure. This is especially true where developed settings, including playgrounds, transition into settings defined more by natural landscapes. A perfect example this time of year is BradburyMountain State Park in Pownal. A new playground, funded as a small part of a 2007 statewide bond, sits right near the park entrance. Nearby, biking and hiking trails head off in different directions, including the low but open summit of Bradbury Mountain. It is as short as 0.3 mile of somewhat steep hiking to reach the summit, where an annual hawk watch is under way. Your child can witness migratory birds gliding acrossMaine’s forests and can then follow that up by reenacting that gliding on a swing back at the playground. Especially consider visiting Bradbury Mountain and Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport on April 28-29 for the “Feathers Over Freeport” birding festival, which includes many kid-friendly events.

BradburyMountainis not the only park with playgrounds. Lake St. George, Moose Point, Sebago, Two Lights, Swan Lake, Cobscook  Bay, and Mount Blue state parks all received playground upgrades from recent state bonds, and other parks have playground equipment as well. All of these parks also provide the opportunity to interact with nature.Moose Point State Park in Searsport, for example, has a 1.5 mile network of trails through pleasant forests as well as access to the shoreline of Penobscot Bay. Youngsters can look for forest and marine life, including tidal pool organisms at low tide. After exploring the shore and trails, families can have a picnic at one of the picnic areas overlooking the bay.

Mount Blue State Park in Weld is yet another example of a destination that blends easy-access experiences with opportunities to interact with wild nature. There is a popular beach, boat launch, nature center, and camping area on Webb Lake, and there also is a diverse set of trails at the Center Hill area, which includes 3,187-foot-high Mount Blue. The steep, 3.2 mile (roundtrip) Mount Blue Trail may be beyond the ability of some families, but other trails, especially the 0.5 mile (roundtrip) Center Hill Nature Trail, provide a taste of the western mountains in a setting well suited to youngsters. Picnic tables, an Adirondack shelter for day use, restroom facilities, and a tremendous view of Tumbledown, Big Jackson, and Little Jackson mountains await visitors here.

While public reserved lands are typically more at the big and wild end of the spectrum, as compared to state parks, they still provide some great destinations for families looking to at least dip their kids’ toes into the wild.

Suggested public lands hiking trails less than 2 miles in total length include several trail routes at Dodge Point in Newcastle; the Cataracts Trail located in the Andover West Surplus portion of the Mahoosuc Public Lands; Bald Mountain Trail in Oquossoc; and Hancock County’s Caribou Mountain Trail at the Donnell Pond Public Lands (the 1.8 mile roundtrip northern access trail to the larger 12-mile Caribou Mountain Loop network). In addition to trails like these, and many longer trails, there are terrific beaches, primitive camping, boat access to pristine waters, and unfettered open spaces to teach kids to hunt, fish, and observe plants and wildlife.

Young children have an almost unparalleled ability to shape your daily life. Backpacking across the Bigelow Preserve can get replaced with visits to the swings and sandbox. And all things considered, that’s just fine. Thankfully, parks, both state and local, are available to start kids down a path that can lead to bigger and bigger adventures.

Before you know it, you may have your kids on the Appalachian Trail or other backcountry destinations – and they may be waiting for you to catch up!

For more information about Mainestate parks, go to: wwwparksandlands.com

Maine Department of Conservation: Plum Creek Court Decision Allows Process to Continue

AUGUSTA,Maine– The decision issued Thursday by the Maine Supreme Judicial  Court regarding Plum Creek’s Concept Plan for the Moosehead Lake Region, approved three years ago by the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC), now will allow the process to go forward, according to state officials.

As a result of the court decision upholding LURC’s approval of the plan, Plum Creek now can apply for permits for moving its project forward after meeting a variety of commitments, Maine Department of Conservation (MDOC) and LURC officials said.

“Our natural-resource economy and quality of place define Maine,” MDOC Commissioner Bill Beardsley said. “Projects such as this one demonstrate that we can look toward a future rural Maine as a place where conservation and community vitality are wed.”

“This decision will mean a great deal for the economy of the Greenville area, with the future development of resorts and housing developments in carefully selected locations,” Samantha Horn Olsen, acting LURC director, said. “It also will ensure permanent public access to over 360,000 acres of working forest and create funds for affordable housing, recreation and wildlife. In addition, it will allow the Maine Department of Conservation to establish boat launches and trails for many types of recreational activities.

“The staff and Commission have much work ahead of us as each phase is proposed and reviewed,” Horn Olsen added.

LURC Chair Gwen Hilton of Starks pointed out that “the Commission worked very hard to ensure that the Moosehead Region Concept Plan took into account the landowner’s interests, the needs of the local and regional economy, and the future of such a critically important recreational, wildlife habitat and timber resource, and did so in a way that was fair and transparent.

“I am very pleased that the Maine Supreme Court has affirmed the Commission’s decision,” Hilton said. “I hope the plan will be of great benefit to the people of Greenville and the region.”

The Plum Creek development plan consists of two main segments, including a developed area around Moosehead Lake consisting of just over 16,000 acres and a second easement area of 363,000 acres. A third parcel of 30,000 acres already has been sold to the Appalachian Mountain Club for long-term forestry and recreation use.

The development area would allow resort, hotel and residential units, including single-family residences or lodges, capped at 2,025 units. The easements for the undeveloped area aroundMaine’s largest lake would be held by the Forest Society of Maine and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, under MDOC.

Plum Creek of Seattle first filed its development application in April 2005. The application process was delayed, however, when the company presented two amendments to its plan. LURC public hearings began in December 2007 and continued through April 2008. The Commission then began its own review and made several more amendments, finally approving the plan in September 2009.

The plan was appealed by several environmental groups to Maine Superior Court, which found that LURC had erred procedurally. That decision was overturned on Thursday by the Law Court in a unanimous decision.

In the next few months, Plum Creek must finalize its commitments regarding the easement, as well as establish funds for affordable housing, wildlife protection and recreation, and also execute easements for trails and road access.

For a map of the Moosehead Lake Region Concept Plan, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/lurc/reference/resourceplans/moosehead/2009-09-23_summarymap.pdf

For more information about the Land Use Regulation Commission, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/lurc/index.shtml

Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Regarding LURC’s Decision to Uphold Plum Creek Plan

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul LePage released the following statement today on Maine’s Supreme Court ruling which states the Land Use Regulation Commissioner did not violate rules when the agency approved Plum Creek’s development plan.

“This court decision affirms our belief that good land-use planning, conservation easements on working forests and expansion of the eco-economy in the Piscataquis and Somerset counties can be founded on common ground. I commend Plum Creek, conservation groups engaged in the easement, LURC, the forest industry and the Greenville community on their achievement.

First comes the establishment of working-forests conservation easements that exceed the combined acreage of the Baxter State Park and Acadia national Park, then the permit process. The work has just begun!”

WHAT: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in the Midcoast –
Maine Forest Service presentation at the 2012 CLC YMCA Home and Garden Show in Damariscotta
WHEN: 1 p.m., Saturday, March 17.
WHERE: CLC YMCA, Business Route 1, Damariscotta.

COST:  $5 Admission Fee

Hemlock woolly adelgid is an invasive forest insect that threatens the vitality ofMaine’s forest and ornamental hemlock trees. It is known to be established in southern coastalMaineforests as far east asBristol. It has been found on planted trees along the coast to the eastern border withCanada.

The MFS will present an informational session about hemlock woolly adelgid and its impact on hemlock trees at the Home and Garden Show in Damariscotta to help landowners and homeowners prepare for and respond to this pest.

The information presented will provide tools to identify, monitor for, and respond to detections of this insect. You will learn about the history of hemlock woolly adelgid inMaine, its natural history and control.

For more information contact: Allison Kanoti, Maine Forest Service forest entomologist, at 287-3147 orallison.m.kanoti@maine.gov.

For more information, go to: www.maineforestservice.gov/HemlockWoollyAdelgid.htm

More information about the venue is online at: http://www.clcymca.org/2012_Home_and_Garden_Show.html

If you read this Valley Voice story, please do me a favor and “Like” The Valley Voice on Facebook. Thank you for your support!

Governor Paul LePage personally congratulated Rogers on winning the 2011 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series state championship. The two were joined by Rogers’ wife Kim in the Governor’s Cabinet Room of the Maine State House in Augusta on February 21.

Rogers also won the NASCAR Pro Series division track championship at the .333-mile paved oval in Scarborough. Both titles were career firsts for Rogers, 47, of Old Orchard Beach.

“Our visit with Governor LePage went very well,” Rogers said. “He asked how the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series relates to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and we talked about the different steps in NASCAR racing. One of his staff members is a big Kevin Harvick fan.”

Rogers won the Beech Ridge track title by a single point over Aaron Ricker and the state championship by three points over Trevor Sanborn.

“Mr. Rogers has an impressive racing career and he’s made a lot of Mainers very proud. I wish him a safe and successful future behind the wheel,” said Governor LePage.

Rogers is a 15-year veteran of the NASCAR Pro Series division at Beech Ridge. His 2011 racing record was two wins, nine top-fives and 12 top-10s in 12 starts.

“Everything this championship has brought me is more than I ever expected,” Rogers said. “It’s quite a thrill to win your state championship and get to meet your state’s governor. I told Governor LePage I hope I have a chance to meet him again next year.”

After he returned home from his morning visit with Governor LePage, Rodgers made a quick change of attire back into work clothes. He operates Bill’s Automotive, an auto repair business in Old Orchard Beach.

“Today was the last part of our championship celebration,” Rodgers said. “We’ve been back to work on our race cars getting ready for the Beech Ridge season opener May 5.”

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing. The series encompasses nearly 60 speedways across the United States and Canada.