This week was dominated by deliberations on the Supplemental Budget, LD 209, which includes a critical $2 million allocation for the implementation of the Early Intervention Strategy to control a building spruce budworm outbreak on nearly 300,000 acres of Aroostook County this spring. This funding is required to draw down $12 million in federal match, along with private landowner contributions.
For our industry, this is the most important bill that will be considered this session, which is why we are hopeful that appropriators will find resolution on unrelated funding matters that are also included in this budget by the time legislators meet again on February 25. Failure to achieve 2/3 support will put the program, and potentially tens of thousands of acres of forest in northern Maine, at risk of defoliation this summer.
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While the majority of our time was spent advocating for funding to treat areas designated as spruce budworm outbreak “hot spots”, we engaged on other matters as well.
On Tuesday, we held our second Timber Talk breakfast event at our office focused on the topic of how sustainability certifications benefit Maine. Thanks to all who attended this breakfast, along with our speakers, Rebecca Barnard from Sappi North America and Daniel Simonds from Mixedwood, for sharing their expertise.
Unfortunately, we were too busy enjoying the presentation to remember to take a photograph!
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On Wednesday, the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to approve an amended version of our bill, LD 121, “An Act to Include Brush and Yard Debris in the Definition of “litter”. The current version includes a friendly amendment provided by CMP to address line work along with the addition of the word “intentional.” Our testimony, and a following memo provided to the committee by our team clarifying some questions that arose during the public hearing, can be found here and here. Thanks to the CJPS Committee for their support of our measure.
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Also on Wednesday, we submitted testimony to the State and Local Government Committee in support of LD 236, “An Act to Provide Legislative Oversight of the Rule-making Petition Process.” We were joined by PLC in support of this legislation, which was submitted in response to the 2023 petition to the Maine Department of Environmental Protections to adopt the California Advanced Clean Truck Rule. Had this effort initiated by just 150 citizens been successful, that rule, which would have been devastating to our industry and especially loggers, would have gone into effect statewide without legislative approval.
LD 236 is needed to add necessary guardrails to the rulemaking process moving forward.
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That’s all for now. As you will see below, the Legislature is out next week in observation of February vacation week. In the meantime, if you have any questions about our policy positions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Best,
Patrick Strauch and Krysta West
Maine Forest Products Council