How Forestry Laws Affect Municipalities

WORKSHOP DATES & LOCATIONS:

Wednesday, May 17, 12-3 p.m.: Old Town, MFS Office, 87 Airport Road

Tuesday, May 23, 9-12 a.m.: Augusta, MFS Bolton Hill (Rt. 3)

Tuesday, May 23, 6-9 p.m.: Lincoln, Northern Penobscot Tech Region III

Tuesday, June 6, 1-4 p.m.: Belfast Free Library

Tuesday, June 6, 6-9 p.m.: Ellsworth Town Hall

Monday, June 12, 1-4 p.m.: East Machias Municipal Building

These workshops are an opportunity for Code Enforcement Officers, Town Managers, Planners, Assessors, and others to meet with Maine Forest Service District Foresters Terri Coolong, Sandy Walczyk, Morten Moesswilde, and Water Resources Specialist Tom Gilbert. The presentations discuss those forestry laws in Maine that most often impact municipalities and intersect with local ordinances. Approved for 3 legal contact hours for attendance for CEOs.

Topics include the most common state regulations concerning timber harvesting:

• Statewide Standards for Timber Harvesting and Related Activities in Shoreland Areas

  • Guidelines for adopting state wide standards under municipal shoreland zoning ordinances, and possible benefits of adoption;

  • How these water quality regulations are enforced

• Forest Operations Notifications and Forest Practices Act

  • Basic definitions and requirements of timber harvesting;

  • Clearcutting vs. conversion of forest land to other uses

• Liquidation Harvesting

  • What LQH means and where it occurs

  • Responsibilities of town planning boards regarding LQH

• Tree Growth Tax Law

  • Overview of Tree Growth and related current use programs

  • How Maine Forest Service is involved in this law

There is no fee for these workshops but preregistration is required. Please contact Jenny Stevens, MFS Old Town, 207-827-1800 or jenny.stevens@maine.gov.

For more info:  

Terri Coolong (Penobscot Valley: 215-0679, terri.r.coolong@maine.gov);

Sandy Walczyk (Downeast: 441-4924, sandra.l.walczyk@maine.gov);

Morten Moesswilde (Midcoast: 441-2895, morten.moesswilde@maine.gov)