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Now it's unanimous. U.S. Rep. Tom Allen met with some members of the Maine Woods Coalition (MWC) in Greenville Thursday, and declared that he would not support a national park in the region, either. "I'm an easy sell," Allen joked. "I'm opposed to a national park or a feasibility study for a park. I told (RESTORE Executive Director) Jym St. Pierre that as the First District Congressman, I wasn't about to recommend something that the Second District doesn't want." Allen sat comfortably on the porch of the Blair Hill Inn where the sun began to set over Moosehead Lake. Once in awhile, a log truck would rumble by on the Lily Bay Road. "This sort of underscores what we're all about," said Coalition member Stan Higgins. "You can have sustainable forestry and recreation without a national park." Allen, gesturing toward the lake, said that he agreed. "Look at this. You don't find anything like that in New Jersey. But you just can't fence it off and keep the forest industry viable, either," said the Portland Democrat. Coalition Vice-President Loren Ritchie admitted that while he was pleased with Allen's declaration, he wasn't sure how much support there was for a new national park in southern Maine. "I wouldn't say so," said Allen. "Certainly, there's sentiment for one, but I'm not aware that it has any intensity." Allen noted that he has received more letters and e-mails on oil exploration in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge "than any other issue in the headlines right now." The Maine Woods Coalition was formed about nine months in response to RESTORE and other environmental activist groups that support a national park in the North Woods. Because of its non-profit status, MWC is limited in its lobbying efforts, but holds monthly meetings open to the public and has opened some dialogue with major landowners in the region. Keeping a sustainable forestry industry in the region is another MWC goal. Allen said, however, that MWC's mission should be clearer. "If I were you, I would spend more time and energy deciding what you want. We know what you don't want, obviously - a national park," Allen said. Ritchie noted that the pro-national park organizations "come out with slick brochures and fancy press releases all the time. They've got some of these environmental groups with millions of dollars behind them." Are conservation easements the answer? Some Coalition members said that they're leaning in that direction, although Higgins said that he'd like to see a no-national-park clause inserted in any conservation easement agreement. But Coalition member Warren Cochrane cautioned that if too many restrictions are placed in such a contract, "Major landowners will just walk away." Allen said that in his view, a "well-written conservation easement may be the best alternative to a national park" in the North Woods. But he added that there is still a wide gap in funding authorization between the House and Senate for the Forest Legacy Act, which would pay for a good portion of the West Branch Conservation Easement project north of Moosehead Lake. The House wants to spend a lot less than the Senate, and a conference is expected to iron out the differences when Congress goes back into session later this month. The 656,000-acre easement is believed to be one the second largest one in the eastern United States. Although Allen, a former state representative and Portland mayor, is naturally aligned with southern Maine politically, he's no stranger to this part of the state. "I've been fishing in the ponds around Baxter State Park since I was 12. I like the West Branch; and when I have time, I fly into Pierce Pond," said Allen. "You have something special here, and it's obvious you care about it very much." |