Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is proposing to change the way it regulates important inland waterfowl and wading bird habitat (IWWH). This proposal would allow major development, such as residential subdivisions and gas stations, in the critical buffer areas of IWWH without even getting a permit. Such development would be allowed under permit-by-rule (PBR), a streamlined process which allows development to proceed without a thorough review from state biologists and wetlands experts.
Update:
The Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) has strengthened the Maine DEP's proposed rules for IWWH. The BEP unanimously voted to increase the required habitat buffer from 100 feet to 150 feet and to require consultation with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife if proposed activity is to occur during a particularly sensitive time of year. Although we are happy with this decision, we remain concerned that there will be an effort to weaken the proposal, LD 1797, when the Environment and Natural Resources Committee takes it up this session. A public hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 1pm in Cross Building Room 216.
You can visit the Maine BEP website for the draft PBR proposal and a memo from DEP to the Board.
*Additional information and talking points on significant wildlife habitat and the threats to IWWH can be found here.
Maine's North Woods and the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC)
Update:
LD 1798 (An Act to Reform Land Use Planning in the Unorganized Territor) has been printed, and is very similar to the LURC Reform Commission's final report to the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) Commitee. Although we agree with many parts of the bill, there are some sections that draw major concern.
A public hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 1:00pm in Cross Building Room 206.Please tell members of the ACF Committee and your legislators that keeping LURC’s statewide approach is the best way to protect the integrity Maine’s beautiful North Woods! Let them know that LURC's composition must represent the entire state of Maine, as ALL Mainers utilize the resources of the North Woods, and that legislative oversight as to who serves on the LURC Commission is crucial. Also emphasize that allowing counties to opt out would take away from this desired statewide approach. Counties are not equipped with the resources and expertise they need to adequately perform the functions of land use planning, zoning and permitting. Allowing counties to opt-out will result in increased costs, confusion and extreme inefficiency.
For more than two decades, the highly successful Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) Program has provided critical funding to protect forestlands, shorelines, working farms and waterfronts, salt marshes, mountain summits and other treasures of Maine’s natural heritage for generations to come. But now the program has no money for future land purchases. The good news, though, is that next year the Legislature will have an opportunity to approve a bond package to replenish LMF funds. With the session over, now is a great time for contacting your legislators and inviting them for a walk at a local LMF funded property. For a map of these projects, click here. If you can’t take a walk, please take a moment to call, write or email your local legislators and ask them to support a bond package that includes substantial funding for LMF. Remind them that LMF funds have protected land in each of Maine's 16 counties, where Maine families can forever enjoy hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, snowmobiling, camping, skiing and other outdoor activities. Please remember that without the Land for Maine’s Future program, more of Maine’s natural heritage would be lost to development. You can make a real difference in our future by contacting your local legislators today!
Support current protections for breeding, resting, and feeding animals. Click here for more information.
Takings
Update:
On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, the Judiciary Committee voted 7-6 in favor of reporting out a Regulatory Takings bill. The public hearing is likely to be scheduled for mid-February.
Please contact your legislators today and urge them to oppose a Takings bill! This irresponsible and costly law would be devastating for Maine taxpayers, as they would essentially be paying real estate developers to obey land use laws that are necessary to protect our public health, safety and environment.
Thousands of Mainers like you are already mobilizing to send a clear message to Augusta that we value our environment - and we expect our political leaders to uphold those values. We'll need your help:
Use Maine Audubon's email action alerts to connect with your legislators and urge them to reject the Governor's proposals.
Donate today to help us fight these attacks on Maine's environment.
