October 24, 2006
1. What was announced today? The Nature Conservancy and Plum Creek have signed a definitive purchase and sale agreement to conserve nearly 345,000 acres in northern Maine (PDF). The intent to pursue this transaction was announced in March by The Nature Conservancy, Appalachian Mountain Club, Forest Society of Maine and Plum Creek as part of a broader
Conservation Framework. When completed, the transaction would represent one of the largest land conservation projects in Maine history and would help create the second largest conservation easement in the United States. Under the Conservation Framework, The Nature Conservancy, Appalachian Mountain Club and Forest Society of Maine will jointly raise private and public funds in support of the project.
There are three components to the purchase and sale agreement:
- 270,000-acre Moosehead Legacy Conservation Easement
- 45,200-acre fee purchase of the Moose River parcel
- 28,320-acre fee purchase of the Roach Ponds parcel
The purchases will occur should Maine’s
Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) approve a concept plan submitted by Plum Creek. The Nature Conservancy and Plum Creek have submitted information about the purchase and sale agreement to LURC.
LURC established the concept plan process as an alternative to traditional subdivision and development regulation. Concept plans identify where development is to be focused and the means by which natural and recreational resources will be protected.
2. What is the Appalachian Mountain Club’s role in this agreement? The AMC, The Nature Conservancy, and the Forest Society of Maine will jointly raise private and public funds to support this project. In addition, AMC will be purchasing the 28,320-acre Roach Pond parcel referenced in the announcement once the purchase and sale agreement is complete. Completion of the purchase and sale agreement is contingent upon LURC’s approval of a concept plan.
The parcel abuts AMC’s 37,000-acre Katahdin Iron Works parcel, purchased in 2003, to the south, and the Maine Bureau of Public Land’s Nahmakanta Unit to the north. AMC sees the Roach Pond parcel as the “missing link” needed to complete a protected land corridor running through the 100-Mile Wilderness from AMC’s Katahdin Iron Works property to Baxter State Park. The Roach Pond tract is envisioned as a key component of
AMC’s Maine Woods Initiative, which seeks to provide
additional recreational opportunities, economic development, sustainable forestry and public access.
3. What does this purchase and sale agreement consist of? The Nature Conservancy and Plum Creek have signed a $35 million purchase and sale agreement to conserve nearly 345,000 acres in north-central Maine. The agreement includes the 270,000-acre Moosehead Legacy Conservation Easement; the fee purchase of the 45,200-acre Moose River parcel, and the fee purchase of the 28,320-acre Roach Ponds parcel.
4. What’s the difference between the purchase and sale agreement and the Conservation Framework? The purchase and sale agreement covers the fee purchase and easement purchase described above. The Conservation Framework includes these purchased fee parcels and easement, along with an additional easement of approximately 72,000 acres to be donated by Plum Creek to the State of Maine, which is proposed by Plum Creek as balance required for the concept plan.
5. Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission is currently reviewing the concept plan submitted by Plum Creek. Does this mean Plum Creek’s plans have been approved? No. Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission’s review process of Plum Creek’s concept plan is still in its early stages. The commission will do much more review before it reaches a decision on a concept plan. Public hearings on the concept plan are currently expected to take place next year.
Information on the concept plan can be found on
LURC's website.
6. Does this purchase and sale agreement put undue pressure on LURC? This agreement is not intended to pre-empt the independent analysis and decision-making of the Land Use Regulation Commission. LURC had requested more detailed purchase and sale information from Plum Creek. This announcement also ensures that the public is informed of this agreement. The purchase and sale agreement confirms that these fee and easement purchases will occur if LURC approves a concept plan.
7. What’s the difference between the concept plan and the Conservation Framework? The Conservation Framework is an agreement between Plum Creek, The Nature Conservancy, the Forest Society of Maine, and AMC that was designed to conserve hundreds of thousands of acres of Maine forestland; maintain intact, working forests; ensure continued public access; and protect ecologically significant lands from development.
Plum Creek’s concept plan identifies areas where development will be focused and indicates how natural resources will be protected. LURC must approve a concept plan in order for a development project to proceed. The Conservation Framework identifies lands that, in addition to the donated conservation required to balance the development components of the concept plan, will be protected through the purchase of either fee or easements once a concept plan is approved by LURC.
8. What does AMC think of Plum Creek’s concept plan? Do you support it now that the Conservation Framework is in place? AMC has not taken a position on the concept plan, and is reserving the right to comment during the LURC review of a concept plan, which will include public hearings. AMC has previously submitted public comments during scoping sessions for the project. AMC has said from the very beginning that Plum Creek’s proposal has the potential to have a tremendous impact on not only the Moosehead Region but also the future of the rest of the Maine Woods. For the proposal to be successful, it needs to be seen as a win-win by everyone with a stake in the region. We want to see the final concept plan achieve the following four principles:
- Conservation needs to be permanent and at a scale that’s appropriate to the size of the region and the size of the proposed development. We think the conservation framework gets us closer to this goal, but know that there are other areas people care about that are not covered by the framework.
- The remote and undeveloped character of the region is its key asset and must be maintained. The Maine Woods is the last large, unbroken forest in the Eastern United States, with Moosehead Lake at its core. The final concept plan needs to ensure that any development is at an appropriate scale and location to enhance use and enjoyment of this area without damaging the rare, special qualities that draw residents and visitors to this region.
- Public access for recreation must be maintained. LURC’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan clearly emphasizes primitive recreation as a key activity, particularly “nonintensive, nonexclusive use of recreational resources.” It also notes that, “a major aim of most of these activities is to get away from it all and to experience a wilderness setting; they are therefore very sensitive to intrusions by development and by more intensive activities.” The final concept plan must recognize and minimize impacts to these public recreational values.'
- The region benefits from having a long-term concept plan. Done right, Plum Creek’s concept plan can provide long-term planning and predictability that ensure the ongoing economic vitality of local communities. To be successful, such a plan must reflect the values of local communities, with its primary economic benefits accruing locally. The final plan for this region should provide an appropriate balance of the economic benefits accruing to Plum Creek and local communities and the economic, social, and ecological benefits accruing to the public.
We believe it is possible to achieve these goals, and we intend to work throughout the LURC process with Plum Creek, local residents and others who care about the Moosehead Region in order to do so.
9. Will public access be allowed on the Roach Pond tract once AMC purchases it? The AMC is committed to providing public access to its lands, and traditional uses, such as hunting and fishing, will continue to be allowed on the property. As part of its concept plan, Plum Creek intends to place a permanent easement on a major ITS snowmobile route on the Roach Pond parcel prior to sale.
10. Is motorized use allowed on other AMC lands? The AMC’s Katahdin Iron Works property is open to use by the public for such activities as hiking, skiing, hunting, and fishing. It contains 14-1/2 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, including an important connector trail between the towns of Greenville and Brownville. AMC has worked with the Moosehead Riders snowmobile club on cooperative trail projects, and is also working with the Eliotsville snowmobile club to create a new connector trail over AMC’s property.
11. How will leaseholders be affected if AMC acquires the Roach Pond tract? We are not aware of any leaseholders on the Roach Pond tract.
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