Maine Environment PROTECTING THE NATURE OF MAINE WINTER 2007 Deciding Factors NRCM and Our Supporters’ Role in Protecting Moosehead By Catherine Schmitt In late 2004, the nation’s largest private land owner, Seattle- issues facing LURC have changed in recent years from site- based Plum Creek Real Estate Development Trust, announced specific, individual camp lots to broader, landscape-scale Iplans for a massive development in the treasured Moosehead issues. LURC is responding to this change in several ways. The Lake region. Since that time, Natural Resources Council of agency is currently revising the1997 Comprehensive Land Use Maine (NRCM) members and supporters have been hearing a Plan and is seeking more public input. “We are trying to devel- great deal about the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) op a process that provides a fair opportunity to participate that and its impending deci- everyone can agree sion on this proposal. on,” said LURC com- With hearing dates slat- missioner Edward ed to start May 19th, Laverty. “And we've View our ad at www.nrcm.org. now is a good time for changed the format of those concerned about our meetings, which Plum Creek’s proposal are open to the pub- Inside to know a little more lic, to focus more on about LURC and the role planning issues.” Still, Staff News NRCM—and Maine Laverty recognizes & Washington citizens—have in AND MARCY MONKMAN JERRY that the LURC process Watch Lily Bay, one of many places proposed for development 2 making sure Moosehead is protected. in Seattle-based Plum Creek’s massive proposal for is cumbersome and not always clear. the Moosehead region. To help ensure that Maine people, View From Zooming in on Zoning particularly those who live in areas My Window & Established in 1971, LURC oversees “Plum Creek has hired proposed for development, under- Steingraber/Payne Highlights planning and zoning in the 10.4 million six law firms and several stand what is being proposed where, 3 acres of unorganized territory in the NRCM carefully reviews proposals state of Maine. LURC's primary roles public relations firms. that go to LURC. When Plum Creek Taking Action– Linda Woods, are to serve as planning board and submitted its petition to rezone We want to make sure Teaching Activist code enforcement officer, since unor- 421,000 acres of forestland in April 4 that the public is getting ganized lands have neither. LURC staff 2005, NRCM staff, for the benefit of Mars Hill review development and rezoning a balanced view.” its members and the general public, Powers Up & applications and make recommenda- carefully reviewed the 1,000-page NRCM in Action 5 tions to a board of seven governor- —Cathy Johnson, plan at the same time LURC was appointed members responsible for NRCM North Woods Project Director reviewing the application. “That’s part Phasing out DECA final decisions. of our job, to help folks understand & Meet Our Most—80 percent—of the unorganized territory is zoned for what it is all about,” says Cathy Johnson, NRCM’s North Woods Staff Scientist 6 timber management. LURC approval is required to rezone an project director. “Your average citizen is not going area for subdivisions of single family homes and other large to read a 1,000-page application. Plum Creek has hired The Passing of developments. six law firms and several public relations firms. We want to Good Friends & Plum Creek's proposal is just one example of how the New Website - Continued on page 4 7 Welcome New Members & My Maine Visit our website: This Week www.nrcm.org 8 NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE P A I D BRUNSWICK, ME Mars Hill PERMIT NO. 65 3 Wade Street Wind Farm Augusta, Maine 04330-6317 Powers Up NRCM/D.VOORHEES CHECK YOUR LABEL! Turn to page 5 to see photos of NRCM’s trip to Please call NRCM with Mars Hill in November! address corrections or duplicate mailings! Protecting the Nature of Maine Welcome, New Staff ■ STAFF NEWS ■ Leslie Burhoe • Part-time Receptionist Beijing, China. Upon her return to Maine, Stacie landed at Maine Audubon before join- Leslie has lived in Maine since 1977. She completed her ing the staff here at NRCM. Stacie and her husband, Efrain, enjoy hiking, canoeing, Associates Degree in liberal studies from the University of Maine camping, and otherwise introducing their infant son, Martin, to the outdoors. in Augusta last fall. Leslie has been a gardener for 18 years and Sara Lovitz • Clean Energy Project Outreach Coordinator volunteers for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners After living in Vermont, Wyoming, and Colorado over the past 5 Association, for which she has organized the Common Ground years, Sara has returned to her home state of Maine. She has COURTESY LESLIE BURHOE COURTESY Country Fair’s craft tent for five years. She lives in Wayne with her Leslie is second from right, a B.A. in chemistry from Colby College and an M.S. in natural with sone Bert (far left), partner, Chris, who owns a wooden boat restoration business, resource planning from the University of Vermont’s School of daughter Ida, and and enjoys spending time with her two grown children and son-in-law Nick. Environment and Natural Resources, where she conducted two-year-old granddaughter. Her interests include hiking, kayak- research on small-scale gold mining in Ecuador for her Master's ing, camping, and sailing. thesis. Sara has worked with the Communities and Small-Scale Caitlin Cleaver • North Woods Project Assistant Mining group at the World Bank and has worked at NOAA doing atmospheric chem- Caitlin grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania and came to Maine istry research. Sara enjoys spending time in the mountains with her golden retriever, for college. She graduated from Colby College in May of 2006 Osito ("Little Bear"). She can also often be found kicking around on the soccer field! with a B.A. in environmental policy. She returned again to Maine Farewell to Alice Percy this fall to assist coaching volleyball at Colby after having played For the last year, the voice you’ve heard when you’ve called our offices on Fridays there for four years. Caitlin lives in Waterville and, when not probably belonged to Alice Percy. In December, Alice left NRCM to start her family. DIMOND/NRCM coaching volleyball, enjoys spending most of her time outdoors B. Congratulations, Alice! either in the mountains, on a beach, or traveling. STAFF NOTES Gabrielle Grunkemeyer Rigaud • Grants Director After living in Texas for most of her life, Gabrielle moved to Maine In November, NRCM’s advocacy communications director Judy Berk participated in 2003. She has a B.S. in wildlife and fisheries and an M.S. in in a meeting of the Society of Professional Journalists to discuss the creation of the environmental science, both from Texas A&M University. She has New England News Forum. The News Forum, to be unveiled in early 2007, is envi- worked in environmental affairs and mission advancement for sioned as an independent, collaborative effort among news professionals, citizen jour- several nonprofits since moving to Maine. Her professional nalists, educators, and the public to promote vigorous, trusted, accountable journalism. COURTESY GABRIELLE RISAUD COURTESY experience includes project planning and management, grant research and writing, and fundraising. Gabrielle lives in Jefferson Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim in late October gave a presentation at the annual with her husband, Chris, and enjoys paddling and snowshoeing. conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists, held in Burlington, Vermont. Pete described Maine’s successful electronics waste (e-waste) recycling program, Stacie Haines • Membership Manager championed by NRCM, on a panel moderated by Elizabeth Grossman, author of High After more than a decade away, Stacie recently returned to her Tech Trash: Digital Devices, Hidden Toxics, and Human Health. home state of Maine. She received a B.S. in environmental stud- ies at the University of Vermont. She spent several years serving in the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa, has worked at nonprof- ★ its in Vermont and Oregon, and held a teaching position outside .DIMOND/NRCM B ★ WASHINGTON WATCH: ★★ .BAYREUTHER/NECM A Vote for Change B Democratic majorities in the House and Senate were swept into office by a conflu- administration and industries that attempt to thwart the law by gutting the regulations ence of concerns. Although the Iraq war appeared to be the greatest, Americans that implement it. Loss of anti-environmental committee chairs in Congress will send Dnow have the most environmentally friendly legislative branch that we have seen polluters running to the administration as never before seeking rule changes to since the early 1990s, maybe even the ‘80s. Nevertheless, it may not be easy to weaken public health and environmental safeguards. NRCM and our allies will work pass the kinds of laws we need to create a clean and efficient energy system to hard to ensure long-term values are not sacrificed for short-term profits that benefit few. seriously address global warming. The filibuster works for any minority party, so it The change in Congress also means that NRCM will be able to help make the will still take at least 60 votes to get any big bills through the Senate. most of our existing environmental laws. Using these laws, we can promote funda- And we must not forget that for at least the next two years, President Bush will probably veto any legislation the timber companies, oil companies, or utilities don't mental changes in how we manage our resources, protect people, and preserve the like. We in the environmental community will need to prioritize our issues as never working pieces of our natural world.