Maine Supreme Court mulls Plum Creek approval
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday heard arguments in an appeal of the state's approval of Plum Creek Timber Co.'s massive development in the Moosehead region, but a decision is likely months away.
The Land Use Regulation Commission in September 2009 approved the company's plan to develop 16,000 of its 1 million acres in northern Maine into a resort and housing complex, as well as conserve another nearly 400,000 acres. But environmental groups in April 2011 successfully challenged the approval in Maine Superior Court. Plum Creek and Maine Attorney General William Schneider then appealed the lower court's ruling. On Tuesday, the environmental groups -- the Natural Resources Council of Maine, RESTORE: The North Woods and the Forest Ecology Network -- argued LURC violated state rules by approving the plan without holding a public hearing on the final version, the Bangor Daily News reported. Lawyers for the state and Plum Creek, however, said interveners were given appropriate time to offer feedback. Plum Creek Community Affairs Manager Mark Doty in May told Mainebiz the company is committed to the project and is still moving ahead with its transfer of 390,000 acres into conservation easements.
If the Supreme Court upholds the lower court's ruling, hearings on Plum Creek's plan would be reopened. While the court typically makes a decision in about three months, the complexity of this issue could lengthen the decision time, according to the paper.
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