Senator Plowman Decries DOT’s Lack of Oversight in 303 Acre Harvest in Medway

For Immediate Release

March 25, 2008

Augusta – Senator Deb Plowman (R- Penobscot) on Tuesday decried the lack of planning and oversight on the part of DOT with respect to a 303 acre harvesting operation along I-95 near Medway.

“Such a large scale project should have been permitted by LURC and wasn’t,” Plowman said.

LURC met with stakeholders yesterday and is poised to charge the State of Maine with that violation and others. DOT negatively impacted wetlands and the nearby stream which may also draw violations and fines from LURC.

Furthering Plowman’s frustration is DOT’s lack of proper forestry planning which could have resulted in revenue to the State of Maine. The value of the timer and chipped wood is estimated to be $1.5 million.

“DOT’s lack of oversight, failure to contact LURC for guidance and inadequately gauging the value of this Maine asset cost Maine tax payers all the way around,” Plowman stated.

This project was funded with $560,000 of federal money and resulted in bids ranging from 25 to 303 acres. When the bid process drew such a large acreage DOT should have negotiated a portion of the $1.5 million to be split with the State.

“The net result is appalling – Mainers expect better roads and bridges for our dollars whether State or Federal.

Instead we have damaged wetlands and streams, calculable losses of revenue. The imposition of fines on the State and possibly mitigation costs to repair environmental damage.

At a time when Maine needs to manage its dollars and assets as carefully and wisely as possible, DOT has failed in its stewardship of both money and our natural resources.”

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