Landowner Resolves Water Quality Violations with Maine Forest Service

July 3, 2020

Bureau of Parks and Lands Resolves Water Quality Violation with Maine Forest Service

AUGUSTA - The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Maine Forest Service (MFS) entered into an administrative settlement agreement with the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL). BPL agreed to pay a $10,000.00 civil penalty and to institute training and oversight measures to reduce the risk of future violations. The settlement resolves violations of Maines rules governing timber harvesting activities in Township 11 Range 7, in Piscataquis County.

During a 2019 timber harvest, road construction and maintenance activities conducted by BPL in areas around McNally Brook in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway resulted in the deposition of sediment into McNally Brook and areas further downstream. BPL has corrected the violations.

"Our goal is to improve the management of Maines forests. We focus on educating and informing landowners to reduce the possibility of violations. When they occur, however, we have a responsibility to uphold the law." - Patty Cormier, MFS Director.

We take our commitment to clean water seriously, and we recognize that this harvest resulted in an unacceptable water quality impact. We will build upon this opportunity to work with the Maine Forest Service to strengthen our training, implementation, and monitoring of Best Management Practices to ensure this doesnt happen again. - Andy Cutko, Director, BPL

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