AUGUSTA – A Farmington man will pay a $4,000 fine for violating the state’s forest practice regulations, the Department of Conservation’s Maine Forest Service announced today.
Tracy Gordon agreed to pay the penalty after an administrative negotiation concluded. Gordon was accused of improperly clear-cutting 44 acres of trees on property he owns on the Horne Hill Road.
The forest service says that Gordon failed to develop a “harvest plan” with a licensed forester, and did not “have an adequate separation zone” between clear cuts. State law requires at least 250 feet of space between clear-cutting lumber operations and has additional rules governing the size of the trees in that buffer zone.
After an investigation, Gordon agreed to a settlement. This is the typical, and preferred way of penalizing breaches on regulation according to Director of Forest Policy and Management Donald Mansius.
“Our general practice is to negotiate an administrative settlement,” he said, “its often more effective than litigation.”
Mansius advised those interested in harvesting timber on their land to start with good planning. The Maine Forest Service recommends consulting a licensed forester, and to fully understand the rules before beginning to clear.
“Everything he did,” Mansius said, “he could have done legally.”
The investigation and settlement negotiations were carried out by Maine Forest Service foresters and rangers. More information about the Maine Forest Service and its programs, can be found at www.maineforestservice.gov.
