PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A spokesman for the Maine Forest Products Council approached the Maine Potato Board recently with issues surrounding the proposed establishment of a national park near Baxter State Park.
Patrick Strauch, representing a council that is made up of 350 companies, from loggers to paper mills and saw mills, outlined the issues that are a concern for those living and working in the areas immediately affected by the proposed park during the June 24 MPB meeting. Seventy-five thousand acres, he said, are labeled for the national park, and another 75,000 acres would be used as a recreational area. Strauch explained that the national park would have more stringent limits on its use, whereas the recreational acreage would be used for hunting and fishing.
Strauch explained the problem arises when one takes a close look at the proposed 150,000 acres. Both areas, for the park and recreational use, are short in acreage. There are landowners in those areas that aren’t interested in selling.
“If you don’t want to sell your land, and yet this land has been donated to the feds, you’re captured in a purchase area. We know that promises can be made that eminent domain would not be used, but that’s really an act of Congress, and Congress can change that,” Strauch explained.
Other issues he shared concerned the limits and regulations that would be placed on roads going across boundaries through federal land. Loggers and truckers don’t always stick within a 100,000-pound limit; they move what they feel is safe. However, “crossing over into federal land … those are things you have to think about with the boundary line that’s being drawn,” Strauch said.
Strauch also shared that talk of 1,000 jobs being provided to surrounding communities to serve the proposed park cannot be substantiated. After evaluating how the study was done, and comparing it to the jobs that were created for Baxter State Park, the number is not realistic.
Regulations on air emissions and water quality were also mentioned. “A very real concern we have is, what kind of neighbor is the federal government going to be?” asked Strauch.
When asked about a timeline, Strauch looked ahead to 2016. “A change in administration can occur … (we believe) this needs a concerted effort.”
“It would be something that would be very unique for the Board to take a position on,” said Don Flannery, executive director of the potato board. A few members discussed the relevance of an immediate vote. The Board decided to table the discussion until October, allowing them the opportunity to discuss the topic with people in the community and their neighbors.
In other business, MPB directors approved a 2015-16 budget totaling $1,762,667 which represents a $318,732 increase (or 22 percent) over last year. Revenues to fund the MPB budget come primarily from three sources: a potato tax (six cents per hundred weight), proceeds from baked potato sales at the Big E in Springfield, Mass. and the remainder from grants and miscellaneous sources.
MPB directors also learned of the retirement of Allison Todd who recently celebrated 52 years of service to the Department of Agriculture. The Board also awarded the 2015 Farm Family of the Year designation to John and Tom Qualey of Sherman. The brothers farm 1,000 acres in southern Aroostook County.
The Qualey family will be honored at the Board’s annual meeting on July 16th.
In other business, directors agreed to elect the same officers that served last year: President, Gregg Garrison; Vice President, Keith Labrie; Treasurer, Kramer Bell; and Secretary, Nick McCrum.
The Board was asked to address the Libby Brook watershed issue. There is concern about the amount of phosphorous turning up in the Aroostook River. After heavy rainfall, the Aroostook River turns brown, and if traced back to the Presque Isle Stream, Libby Brook is found to be the source.
“There’s no other entity in Aroostook County that has the capacity or the desire or structure to help address some of these issues for agriculture,” explained Tim Hobbs, director of development and grower relations.
Legislative issues included an update on LD991 “An Act to Amend Maine’s Genetically Modified Food Products Labeling Law” which has been carried over. LD1099 “An Act to Establish a Fund for the Operations and Outreach Activities of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Animal and Plant Disease and Insect Control Laboratory” is also slated for continued discussion next winter.
