The Logger's VOICE - Fall 2019

Volume 13 Issue 4 | Fall 2019

A Quarterly Publication of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Board of Directors

Cover: Logan Malm of Caribou working the forwarder this summer in Coplin as a student in the 3rd Mechanized Logging Operations Program Class. Graduation story page 35.

Jim Nicols, President Tony Madden, 1st Vice President Chuck Ames, 2nd Vice President Will Cole, Secretary Andy Irish, Treasurer

A quarterly publication of:

Scott Madden, Past President

The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Aaron Adams Kurt Babineau Donald Cole Tom Cushman Brent Day

108 Sewall St., P.O. Box 1036 Augusta, ME 04332 Phone: 207.688.8195 www.maineloggers.com

Marc Greaney Steve Hanington Duane Jordan Robert Linkletter Randy Kimball Ron Ridley Wayne Tripp Gary Voisine

PLC Staff Executive Director Dana Doran ▪ executivedirector@maineloggers.com Membership Services Coordinator Jessica Clark ▪ jessica@maineloggers.com Safety and Training Coordinator Donald Burr ▪ safety@maineloggers.com

The Logger’s Voice Editor and Designer Jon Humphrey Communications and Photography ▪ jehumphreycommunications@gmail.com Advertising Jessica Clark ▪ jessica@maineloggers.com Email news, notices, and correspondence ▪ jehumphreycommunications@gmail.com

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IN DEPTH: Why are longstanding family logging businesses shutting down in a strong economy?

24

Supporting Member Spotlight

Chalmers Insurance

Also Inside 4 6 7 8 18 20 29 35 36 38 40 43 44

Calendar and Updates President’s Report New Members Executive Director’s Report Log A Load Golf Tournaments Trucking Safety MLOP Graduation Maine Forestry Direct Link Program PLC News Briefs ALC Updates Master Logger Congressional Updates

Event

Calendar PLC Office, Augusta

PLC Office, Augusta

May 8, 2020 Bangor, ME

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Updates

Do you have news to share?

The PLC is always seeking news from our Members that showcases our industry’s professionalism, generosity, and ingenuity.

Send ideas to jonathan@maineloggers.com

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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From the President

By Jim Nicols Hello Everyone, I hope everyone’s summer and early fall is going well. PLC’s third Mechanized Logging Operations Program (MLOP) class recently concluded with the graduation on September 19th.

Fifteen students graduated this year including two female students. The class was a huge success.

Fifteen is the maximum number of students we can take per class. This year’s students were chosen from a pool of over 50 applicants. While we are retiring more people each year than we are graduating, it takes time to rebuild the workforce. Each year the class continues to evolve and improve. Next year hopefully we can hold two twelve-week programs. I believe that all the students have had interviews and most will have been hired by the time this article is published.

Dana brought many people in for tours while the class was going on and all came away very impressed from start to finish. It takes a lot of people and businesses to make something of this magnitude happen.

Thanks to all of our sponsors and partnerships involved to have these classes happen.

Without them it would not be possible. A special thanks to Donald Burr and his group of instructors. They do a great job keeping things organized and moving forward day to day.

I believe one of the reasons for the success of the program is the grass roots effort of the loggers in recognizing the need and developing the program to fit their needs. Who knows what is needed more than the loggers themselves? PLC’s support continues to also be a very important part of the class’s success.

Labor will continue to be a challenge in the near future and beyond as it is in many small businesses. We must continue to work hard as an industry to promote the jobs that are available in logging. Through collaboration, education and communication within the industry to our young people, schools, and educators we can work towards this common goal. Trucking and drivers should also be included as there is a shortage of CDL drivers out there.

In order for our companies to produce wood fiber, we must work hard to meet these employment needs so we can supply future needs of all of the mills and upgrades that they have added or project in the future. This will be one of the contractors’ biggest challenges in the years to come, but a challenge that I think we can overcome.

Over the summer PLC moved into its new offices beside the building that we were operating out of. If you get a chance stop by and check it out, Dana or Jess would be glad to give you a tour.

I would like to take a minute to thank our legislators and the administration. While we didn’t always agree on all of the issues, we did try to find common ground where we could communicate and have an open door to listen to each other. For that we are thankful and we are looking forward to the next session.

As of September, it looks like PLC members are working relatively safe. We should know in the next quarter what the numbers look like. We should always work towards zero incidents.

That should be our main goal. The safety committee will meet later this fall. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. A date, time and place will be sent out shortly.

Have a safe and dry fall.

Jimmy

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Welcome New Members Charette Family Investments, LLC., of Crystal, ME joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor in July of 2019. The company is Master Logger certified and has a professional staff of four. For more information contact Cyndi Mullen at 538-1142 or email madchemist4@hotmail.com.

Hinds Selective Wood Harvesting of Wayne, ME joined the PLC as a new Contractor in September of 2019. The company has a professional staff of two. For more information contact John Hinds at (207) 242-6267.

KA Tuttle & Sons of New Limerick, ME joined the PLC as a new Contractor in September of 2019. The company is Master Logger certified and has a professional staff of seven. For more information contact Kevin Tuttle at (207) 538-5884.

as a new Affiliated Contractor in July of 2019. The company has a professional staff of three. For more information contact Jared Soucy at 316-9915 or email jsoucylogging@gmail.com.

JLO Logging, of Fort Kent, ME joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor in July of 2019. The company has a professional staff of two. For more information contact Joshua O'Clair at 231-4106 or email josh.oclair@hotmail.com.

C&C Trucking of Lincoln, ME joined the PLC as a new Forest Contractor Member in August 2019. The company has a professional staff of nine. For more information contact Carl Carr at (207) 403-0984 or email carlpattie.carr@gmail.com.

Aroostook Partnership of Caribou, ME joined the PLC as Mark D. Nelson Trucking, of Dexter, ME joined the PLC a new Nonprofit Supporting Member in August of 2019.

The Aroostook Partnership is a nonprofit private/public as a new Contractor in July of 2019. The company has a professional staff of 14. For more information contact Mark partnership speaking with one voice and engaging the private sector leadership, talents, and resources in the Nelson at 270-1528 or email mdntrucking@yahoo.com. region to ensure the economic survival and growth of Timber Down Logging Inc., of Fort Kent, ME joined the Aroostook County. The partnership is concerned with all PLC as a new Contractor in July of 2019. The company is things economic development-related in Aroostook County with a strong emphasis on expanding our natural resource Master Logger certified and has a professional staff of based economy. For more information contact Paul Towle eight. For more information contact Craig Thibodeau at at (207) 551-6601 or 316-8953 or email craig.thib@gmail.com. email ptowle@aroostookpartnership.org.

BMR Logging of Jackman, ME joined the PLC as a new Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Affiliated Contractor in July of 2019. The company has a Center of Portland, ME joined the PLC as a new Nonprofit professional staff of one. For more information contact Bruce Rich at 399-0884 or email brich6600@yahoo.com. Supporting Member in July of 2019. The hospital is a nonprofit organization benefiting from generous community support. From routine check-ups and immunizations, to the Deprey Harvesting Inc., of New Canada, ME joined the treatment of life-threatening illnesses and injuries, it PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor in July of 2019. The provides comprehensive, family-centered healthcare for all company has a professional staff of one. For more of northern New England. With 116 beds, including 31 information contact Joey Deprey at 592-4147 or Level III NICU beds, 20 Level II Continuing Care Nursery email jdeprey80@gmail.com. beds, and 8 PICU beds, it is Maine's premier referral Grady Forest Products of Whitefield, ME joined the PLC hospital, offering services not available elsewhere in the as a new Affiliated Contractor in July of 2019. The state. For more information contact Kate Richardson, company is Master Logger certified and has a professional Philanthropy Manager at (330) 697-2861, staff of 2. For more information contact Steven Grady at email Richak4@mmc.org, or visit the hospital website (207)-549-3170 or at www.mmc.org/bbch. email gradyforestproducts@gmail.com.

JBR Logging Inc., of Mapleton, ME joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor in July of 2019. The company is Master Logger certified and has a professional staff of three. For more information contact J.D. Hummel at 2276708 or email jdhummeljr@hotmail.com.

Not a member but interested in joining the PLC? Contact Jessica at (207) 688-8195 or email jessica@maineloggers.com

J. Soucy Logging Inc., of Fort Kent, ME joined the PLC

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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From the Executive Director

Ceiling vs. the Floor

By Dana Doran In October of 1994, 45 loggers from 20 states descended upon St. Louis, Missouri to discuss the formation of a national organization which would provide a “forum which allows groups, organizations, agencies or lawmakers to grasp a “national sense” of how independent loggers feel about proposals which might dramatically impact our profession.” On behalf of loggers from the state of Maine, PLC founding member, Harold Bouchard, President of HO Bouchard/Comstock Woodlands attended that meeting to discuss a rebuttal to the American Forests and Paper Association’s roll out of a program now known as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). That meeting eventually led to the formation of the American Loggers Council (ALC) later that year and the organization of the PLC in 1995.

Loggers from Maine and across the country felt strongly that the logging community had to organize to push back against prescribed working and training requirements which were conditions of employment. Conditions that led to additional work requirements without compensation.

In a press release published on

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

October 4, 1994, it was announced that, “delegates from 20 states took major steps towards uniting members of the logging community,” according to Lisle Brist, a conference participant and President of the Montana Logging Association. “Advancing the professional image of independent loggers, providing a unified voice on logging issues, and working with public, industrial and other private landowners towards sustainable forestry practices were among the topics discussed,” said Brist. He added, “the council endorsed VOLUNTARY, state by state, professional training and education designed by loggers, for loggers…and the council emphasized the need for strong support from public, industrial and private landowners to encourage, reward and recognize loggers committed to the pursuit of professional standards.”

Twenty-five years later, I think it’s important to reflect on where loggers stand today with the advent of the ALC, the PLC and other work over that timeframe. Have working conditions improved over the last 25 years for loggers, do loggers now receive the respect they deserve and are they free to

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

take advantage of “voluntary” education and training which is for loggers and by loggers. What still stands in the way of true success and why?

As I reflect back on this timeframe, and ponder the question of positive progression, I equate this to the analogy of a ceiling vs. a floor.

With the ceiling, loggers are told what they need to do to be successful, they are spoken for and they are told how good they are based upon the training program they are told to complete.

In the case of the floor, loggers are able to control their destiny. They are respected for the experience and investment they bring to the table. They speak on their own, their organizations and projects are endorsed, and they can move forward as equal partners with lower friction costs.

The floor is the springboard and the ceiling is the limitation. As much as loggers have made significant progress in busting through the ceiling, even today, there are still many obstacles in their way to move off the floor, up the stairs and to the next level.

In 1999, the PLC created the Master Logger (ML) program as a voluntary, floor-based performance standard to recognize the exceptional harvesting practices that logging contractors had been invested in for

years. We realized that it was the consumer who wanted a certified product and that point of harvest chain of custody was a significant component of harvest practices certification. Rather than fight against the ceiling in the world of logger training, we decided to lead our way up the stairs rather than follow.

This leadership was vital in moving the recognition of loggers forward. We could not let others define this profession and define who loggers were and what they knew. ML was created to tackle this problem so that loggers could define themselves and determine what their destiny would be.

Over the last 20 years, ML has become one of the PLC’s crowning achievements and something that all loggers in Maine should be proud of.

From that point in time, ML has evolved, it has grown and it has shown what can be done when loggers are willing to put themselves out there for the world to see.

In 2005, ML became 3rd party certified by the Rainforest Alliance through their creation of the SmartLogging Certificate. In 2007, the Northeast ML Program was expanded to include loggers from the seven states in New England and New York. Today there are 120 companies in this region who can call themselves Master Loggers.

Close to home, logging companies in Doran Continued Page 14

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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T

he economy is strong. Demand for wood is high. After years of decline, Maine pulp and paper mills are reinvesting and expanding.

New markets for wood fiber are emerging, and Maine’s vast forests are an accessible and reliable source for that fiber in a world of shrinking forestland.

Why then, are well respected, long-standing family logging businesses in Maine shutting down?

Every story is different, but when you talk to loggers who have made the hard decision to end those businesses that their families have poured decades of hard work into, you’ll find it really boils down to one thing; the profits just aren’t there anymore.

There was a time not long ago when these businesses thrived, when good money could be made to justify the challenges and effort that goes into making a logging business successful. Solid profit margins meant these logging companies could offer good wages and benefits and that in turn ensured they could attract good workers and expand when they needed to. It also provided the money to operate newer, safer and more efficient equipment and to build for the future when, if they were lucky, they could pass the business on to the next generation as their fathers and grandfathers did before them.

No more.

Over the last two decades the picture has changed dramatically. Costs to operate have risen steadily, with expenses for everything from equipment to fuel to health insurance for employees rapidly climbing. The recession and broader global market shifts led to mill shutdowns and cutbacks. Trucking costs went up and drivers grew scarce as haul distances grew longer. Skilled logging operators began reaching retirement age, with too few young operators

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Why loggers are shutting down in a strong economy

Photos: Opposite, Bruce Marquis watches a log truck pass by his garage next to the border crossing at St. Pamphile where his own logging business, Robinson Lumber Co, is now shut down after several decades.

Top: Three generations of Poulins two years ago. Today Gerard Poulin & Sons is out of business. to replace them. And long-standing relationships between more than seven decades, Robinson Lumber Co. no longer mills, contractors and landowners were shaken by major exists. sales of commercial timberland to new owners that had Bruce’s father came from Fort Kent to St. their own profit margin to manage rather than ensuring the Pamphile on the Maine-Canada border in 1947 to begin health of the logging workforce those profits depend on. building the business logging in Maine’s north woods.

Although the economy has rebounded and most Bruce was born there in a small house on the Maine side of links in Maine’s forest products chain have seen the the border next to where the Robinson Lumber Co. garage benefits of that, in many cases those benefits have not made now stands, within 100 feet of Canada. For 13 years, he their way down to the logging industry on which the entire worked alongside his father before taking over the business himself. It was a family business then, and even now his chain depends. sister, Jackie is still with him working to close it down.

Bruce Marquis, owner of Robinson Lumber Co. and a PLC Member since 2002, has been a logger for 45 Logging has always had ups and downs, but there years. He turns 64 this year, and two years ago he had to were many good years for the business. Working on make the decision to shut down his logging operations. commercial timberland feeding wood to the mills and This spring, what was left of the business in road building markets was a boom industry. At one time Bruce can and maintenance and excavation was shut down too. remember 34 employees on the payroll and 24 skidders in Except for buildings, land, and equipment - and on the woods. Production was big too. “One year we cut paperwork including a substantial outstanding loan – after 153,000 tons for Seven Islands,” Bruce recalled.

IN DEPTH

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

Continued Page 12

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IN DEPTH Continued from Page 11 16 The decline of the company was a familiar story everywhere in Maine. Gerard Poulin & Sons faced all the and one many former loggers across Maine would same issues mentioned by Bruce Marquis in St. Pamphile recognize. Shrinking profits leading to cutbacks in including rates for wood, worker shortages, and rising employees and new purchases. Aging equipment, debt operational and equipment costs, but Larry also pointed to rising rather than falling, uncertainty in the markets, unpredictable weather leading to more extended mud increasing difficulty finding enough workers, a slide down seasons, uncompensated expenses associated with cutting that no amount of hard work seemed able to stop. Bruce’s small private lots for aesthetics as much as timber, and father paid him a salary when he was working for him. mounting stress from working harder than ever for When Bruce took over he didn’t raise it. In the latter years, diminishing returns. he had to cut it. He has not drawn a paycheck since April of “When you’re making good money, there’s a lot of this year. things you can overlook, but when you’re just scraping to There was a time when he thought of passing the get by it makes the whole atmosphere just an awful place to business on to the next generation, but although one of his work,” Larry said. sons had an interest he did not encourage that and today he is glad his children chose other careers. “I saw what was coming,” Bruce said.

Months after shutting down, Bruce and Jackie continue the job of selling off equipment, spare parts and other assets. The land and the buildings will eventually go too if there is a buyer. At the end of the whole process Bruce is hopeful the outstanding debt can be settled and a bit of money will be left over, because he has no pension or other retirement, just Social Security.

Both Bruce and Jackie smile and laugh as they talk about the company, they’re not asking for sympathy or suggesting what happened to Robinson Lumber is something to be depressed about, but even for people so obviously upbeat as these it is clear the loss of a family business is a very hard thing.

“I worked all my life, I have nothing left,” Bruce said. “I hate to see it go out like this.”

Bruce Marquis speaks with PLC Executive Director Dana Two hundred miles south of St. Pamphile in Doran in St. Pamphile in early September.

Readfield, Larry Poulin has a lot in common with Bruce Marquis.

Larry had been positioning the business for his son, Larry’s father, Gerard, started logging more than Dana to take over so he could retire. They had started the 60 years ago and moved his young family to Readfield in process, but he finally woke up one night and realized the 1959 where he eventually founded Gerard Poulin & Sons. profit just wasn’t there to keep the business going, and it His sons grew up in the business and for three decades wouldn’t be there for Dana either. So, the company cut its beginning in 1980, the company worked on big commercial final lot in early summer, got the last checks for loads of timberlands in the Eustis area, cutting right-of-ways for wood a few weeks later, and is out of business going roads, harvesting thousands of acres for major landowners, through the process of selling equipment and assets. Gerard and running multiple crews that included many members of Poulin & Sons was a PLC Member and a Master Logger the Poulin family in addition to many employees. company.

In 2011, the company finally returned to working Three generations of Poulins worked in the closer to home, primarily on smaller private lots. As business, and Dana’s young sons were already expressing recently as the early summer of 2019, Larry, his brother an interest in logging, but if they go that route they won’t Gerry, Larry’s son Dana, and the brothers’ nephew, be in the family business.

Andrew were still working together in the woods together, He’ll always have good memories of his life in the but no more. woods, but, “It just didn’t end the way it was supposed to,” The money just wasn’t there anymore.

Larry said.

“We were as efficient as we could possibly be, and Not every logger who has gotten out of the if we can’t make any money, I don’t know how to do it, business wants to talk about it, and many who are still in it and I’ve been doing it all my life,” Larry said. “I’ve always don’t want to go on the record because they are still trying solved the problem, but this problem can’t be solved.” to make a go of things and feel that speaking out publicly The challenges for the company had been building could hurt their business. Still, off the record they all talk up for years, most of them very familiar to loggers

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

about the same issues that led to the demise of companies done everywhere from tax breaks to reduced regulation to like Robinson Lumber Co. and Gerard Poulin & Sons, and help profits by lowering the costs of logging, loggers agree agree that if something doesn’t change, the day of that there is no more meat to be cut from the bone on the efficiency side. The real fix lies on the side of the returns; reckoning won’t be long in coming for Maine. if the cost of harvesting wood has risen, that cost must be The breakdown in the traditional relationship passed on, it cannot simply be absorbed by the logging between the mills, the contractors, and landowners has been a huge factor in the decline of the industry, some say, companies. and it seems this three-legged stool, as it is known in the No one blames a wood buyer for trying to get a industry, won’t stand much longer if the contractor leg good price on wood. That’s the free market, and that’s the system most loggers believe in. The logging industry once fails. employed thousands more than it does today, but as The difficulty in turning a sufficient profit in technology changed and the move to mechanization began Maine’s logging industry is glaringly apparent in a recent employment availability and wage analysis prepared by the cutting into those numbers, there was excess contractor Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at the capacity and it became easy for buyers to leverage that into University of Southern Maine. The study found wages for keeping the prices they paid low because if a logger told logging equipment operators and log truckers in Maine are you, “I need more money,” you could always say, “I’ll find somebody else who can do it for less.” lower than those for comparable jobs in competing industries in the state, and that although capital expenses in For years it worked, and contractors on the edge of the logging industry have risen across the board, rates for profitability couldn’t make it and shut down. Contractor capacity steadily shrunk. Companies remaining in business wood harvesting and trucking have not.

“This analysis simply confirms and reinforces what often did so by surviving on equity and resources that had taken generations to build. Debt climbed. More businesses many in the industry have known for a long time,” Dana failed.

Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC), which commissioned and Now the day of reckoning is fast approaching as partnered with the Center on the study, said. “The root of demand for wood climbs while the contractor force Maine’s vital forest products economy – the logging continues to shrink, and the point where the supply chain industry – must be able to offer higher wages to compete on which Maine’s entire forest products industry depends for existing workers and attract new ones at a time when can no longer keep up is either close or already here. Bruce they are desperately needed to support a resurgent forest Marquis and Larry Poulin have no doubt of this. products industry.”

At the end of the day, contractors want landowners, The heart of the problem is declining financial land management companies and mills to succeed so they health for logging contractors as costs of doing business can succeed. The pie doesn’t need to get bigger; it really have risen, limiting the ability of contractors to raise pay just needs to be redistributed so every business can for workers and limiting their ability to reinvest in their succeed. own companies. Small business in the logging industry Higher wood prices for loggers could change the does not mean, “non-profit”, but for the majority, this is outlook for those contractors who are still in business, but what it has become, said Doran. continuing down the same path will not end well for the The remedy for declining profits in Maine logging businesses and industries that depend on logging has always been, “lower costs and become more efficient,” contractors for their raw material, Bruce said. raise the returns, or some combination of both that leads to “They’re running out of time,” Bruce said. a healthier balance sheet. While there are things that can be “They’re running out of, ‘somebody else.’”

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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Doran Continued from Page 96

it was a rejection of 20 years of ALC commitment to Maine are now receiving the benefits and recognition ML. they deserve, including lower workers comp. rates, an opportunity to set themselves apart through marketing It was clear from the discussion against ML not and advertisement, and opportunities for low interest only at the Board meeting, but over the last two years by loans and benefits from certain mills and landowners those in the dissenting category, that ML was viewed as that see the value in what they do. a threat to their logger training programs, logger training programs that were created to support and service SFI. Back to where I started, in 2000, the ALC This is quite ironic since the ALC was formed in 1994 recognized Maine’s Master Logger program as a to push back against top down ceiling-based preeminent opportunity for logging companies across the country to recognize their harvest practices when it requirements. It seems that 25 years later, the ceiling is now acceptable. endorsed the program to be used as a tool for its membership. Since that point in time, Master Logger is The recent action by the ALC is surprising, but now recognized in 20 states, in Canada and Japan. not unexpected if you really think about it. There are numerous instances, some on a daily basis, where However, as much as ML has grown and has others, even those who are supposed to represent provided tangible benefits to loggers across the globe, the ceiling is still attempting to keep it from succeeding. loggers, relish the opportunity to suppress them because that’s how it’s always been or because without it, they Over the last two years, the PLC’s sister couldn’t move their own agenda forward. After all, as organization, the Trust to Conserve Northeast PLC Board Member Randy Kimball and his wife Forestlands (TCNEF) has been working on marketing Chrissy always say, the stigma of the “Dumb Logger” the ML program on behalf of the ALC. This work was cannot be forgotten. How could a “dumb logger” think incredibly beneficial for the brand and for the respect that logging companies deserve. From 2000 to 2017, the for themselves, speak for themselves or push through that ceiling by standing on the floor.

ALC did not have a concerted effort to market the ML The examples of this I see in this position are brand and encourage states to adopt it as an opportunity astonishing, but I guess in the end, that’s why the PLC for progress. At the end of this year, that work will come exists; to push back and speak on behalf of loggers to an end and so will the support of ALC for ML. At the ALC Annual Meeting on September 28, rather than being spoken to. This is the strength of this 2019 in Orange Beach Alabama, a majority of the ALC organization and why it has been successful for almost 25 years.

Board voted to suspend its endorsement of the ML In a recent organizational newsletter here in program moving forward. The action taken states Maine, there was a discussion on legislation this past specifically that those who have the program currently session that had a provision in it to provide equal will need to run their programs on their own and do so without the formal support of the ALC. The action also representation for good contractors. The article went on stated that there would be no more formal movement or say, “This bill would disadvantage the majority of loggers in the state”. When the PLC asked to discuss encouragement of new ML programs in other ALC this statement and seek clarification, the group didn’t states. respond.

Those of us from the PLC in attendance were I find it rather hypocritical that certain groups disappointed by the action of the ALC. Not only was can advocate for themselves and receive preferential this a rejection of the principles and progress of ML, but

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

treatment in law without a challenge from the logging I can go on and on with example after example community, but when there’s something that could of conversations like this that happen every day in our benefit the logger, they are suddenly the voice for office, within our membership and between stakeholders loggers and know what’s in their best interest. Again, whereby the logger is at the bottom of the value chain it’s just another example of one group’s thought that and must be kept there at all costs. Essentially, the they can speak on behalf of loggers because in the end, perception is if we keep them there, or speak on their they know what’s best for them. behalf, or place blame on them, or make sure they Lastly, in a recent meeting I attended, there was receive training that meets someone else’s standard, all discussion on logging road conditions in a certain part of will be right in the end. This perspective is not healthy and as long as it exists, it will contribute to more the state. Evidently, there have been more complaints contractor erosion than stability. than ever to the state regarding the condition of the roads and something needed to be done because it was As we move forward in a very challenging creating an environment for sediment in water bodies environment these days, with workforce development challenges, investment apathy and a constant reduction and could cause serious harm. of contractors, I would like to challenge all stakeholders There are certainly numerous reasons why this happened and blame can be apportioned to a multitude in this industry to try to take a different approach when of stakeholders. Landowners have not invested in road it comes to what’s in the best interest of the logger. This industry is a chain and the chain is only as strong as its construction and maintenance over the last few years.

Contractors have not built or maintained the roads to the weakest link. The logger is not always the weakest link. standards required. Regardless, the issue exists and there In fact, in a world of constant evolution, the logger is probably one of the strongest links and the most is plenty of blame to go around. committed to the cause.

However, in this meeting, it was simply In the end, positive and productive companies, described as a contractor issue. The contractors need economic sectors and industries must be based upon better training and because of the lack of training, this must be the reason why these roads have deteriorated in strength within the chain. To achieve this, decisions must be made as a team and that team can’t exist such a rapid fashion. without trust and relationships. Trust and relationships I find it hard to believe that it’s the grader operators’ fault for all of these issues and the subsequent take time, but the strongest ones come as result of mutual respect and sharing of responsibility, resources complaints. However, this has always been the norm, and profits over a sustained period of time. place the blame on the contractor because in the end, The ceiling is ever present and perhaps it is just someone has to be at fault and that is the path of least the way it has always been, but it doesn’t mean that this resistance. is the way it has to be. One day, I hope that the floor is It has to be the contractor’s fault because they the starting point and there is no ceiling pushing down. are the one in the machine and if we train our way When this has happened, the examples of success are through it, the problem will either go away or be limitless. forgotten. This is exactly the type of conversation that I hope the fall is productive and successful for solidifies the ceiling vs. floor mentality that pervades this industry on a consistent basis and must change if we all of you and move onward and upward!!! are to move forward in a positive way.

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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New PLC Office in Augusta!

The PLC's office has moved to our permanent home at 108 Sewall Street in Augusta! We are easy to find as our new three-level brick building, purchased and renovated

by PLC this spring, is located right next to the old office. This is a great move for PLC; for the first time in the organization’s history, we will not be renting space and Maine’s Professional Loggers will have their own permanent presence in the state's capital, within sight of the Maine State House and with ample parking, a conference and meeting room, modern offices, and additional space to rent to other tenants. We are excited about the move and look forward to the opportunities the new location offers. The Northeast Master Logger Certification Program is also located in the new building.

Stop in to see us!

A Higher Standard

You know your company holds itself to a higher standard of timber harvesting Prove you are a cut above with Master Logger Certification

masterloggercertification.com

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Summer 2019

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23rd Annual Log A Load for Maine Kids Golf Tournaments

$77,336 Raised!

JATO Highlands Golf Course PLC Executive Director Dana Doran said. “This group The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of always comes through for these families and continues to Maine held its 23rd Annual Log A Load for Maine Kids devote an incredible amount of time, effort, and resources Northern Maine Golf Tournaments in September, raising to the Log A Load cause, and our efforts this year are $77,336 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in something we should be very proud of.”

Maine and pushing its annual fund raising effort to a new record total.

The PLC and the Northern Light Health Foundation (formerly Eastern Maine Health Systems This year for the first time the PLC held two Log A Load golf tournaments, with a new Sept. 6 southern Maine Foundation) have partnered in the Log A Load fund-raising effort since 1996. Donations, which have now surpassed $1 tournament at the Kezar Lake Country Club in Lovell, Maine in addition to the northern Maine tournament Sept. million, have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in 20 at JATO Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln, Maine. support of the mission to save and improve the lives of as The new tournament has been added as the PLC seeks to expand its annual fund-raising efforts on behalf of many children in Maine as possible. Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor is a Children’s Miracle Network Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in Maine, and has Hospital and includes a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that partnered with the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at has received support for years from the PLC’s Log A Load Maine Medical Center in Portland in that effort.

The southern tournament raised $25,236, and when efforts.

Funds raised from the Lincoln golf tournament will added to the $52,100 raised at the northern tournament and go to Northern Light/Eastern Maine Medical Center and the a record $51,866 raised at the PLC Annual Meeting the effort has now raised more than $129,000 for the year. Last funds from the Lovell golf tournament will go to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical year the PLC raised a total of $122,500 for Log-A-Load, Center. The funds from the PLC Annual Meeting are split with the bulk of funds coming from the annual golf between the two hospitals. tournament and PLC Annual Meeting.

Many thanks to our partners in this effort, our “The generosity of the PLC’s members, friends, generous sponsors, our members and supporting members, and supporters is more inspiring each year, and with the friends, donors, and families that made this year’s effort a new tournament we are expanding participation and the positive impact we can have for Maine families in need,” great success!

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Kezar Lake Country Club

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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C&C Trucking Inc. truck at Treeline Inc. in Chesterville.

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

OWNER: Carl Carr YEAR FOUNDED: 2004 ADDRESS: PO Box 481, Lincoln, ME 04457 PHONE NUMBER: (207) 403-0984 EMPLOYEES: 12 TRUCKS: 14

AREA OF OPERATION: Within 100 miles of Lincoln.

SERVICES PROVIDED: Hauling of logs and chips. Excavation and other dirt work.

PLC FOREST CONTRACTOR SINCE: 2019 WHY DID THE COMPANY JOIN PLC: To support its work and on the recommendation of its insurance company.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE THE COMPANY WOULD LIKE PLC TO WORK ON: Shortage of truck drivers.

Trucking section

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Trucking Industry News...

FMCSA Opens Registration for Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse ...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced that registration is now open for the Congressionally-mandated Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, employers, medical review officers, and substance abuse professionals can now visit: https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov and register to create a secure online user account.

“As this Congressional mandate is enacted, FMCSA’s goal is to ensure drivers, employers, and everyone who will be using the clearinghouse are registered as efficiently and effectively as possible. FMCSA is here to be helpful during this implementation, and we strongly encourage all CMV stakeholders to get registered in the clearinghouse now,” said FMCSA Administrator Raymond P. Martinez.

Registration is required to be able to access the clearinghouse once it is fully implemented on January 6,

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

2020. To access the clearinghouse, authorized users must register.

These users include: ▪ Drivers who hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or commercial learner’s permit (CLP).

▪ Employers of CDL drivers. This includes those who employ themselves as CDL drivers (owneroperators), typically a single-driver operation.

▪ Consortia/Third-Party Administrators (C/TPAs).

▪ Medical Review Officers (MROs).

▪ Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs).

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

There is no cost for registration. Commercial drivers are not required to immediately register for the clearinghouse, but will need to register to respond to an employer’s request for consent prior to a pre-employment query or other full query being conducted.

FMCSA’s clearinghouse website contains important resources, including user brochures and instructional aids with step-by-step registration instructions for all users. Users can visit https:// clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov to access these resources and to start the registration process.

The clearinghouse will be a secure online database that will allow FMCSA, CMV employers, State Driver Licensing Agencies, and law enforcement officials to identify – in real-time – CDL drivers who have violated federal drug and alcohol testing program requirements, and thereby improve safety on our nation’s roads.

License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grants to enhance efforts by states to improve the national commercial driver’s license (CDL) program. $2 million in Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training grants to sixteen education institutions to help train veterans for jobs as commercial bus and truck drivers.

U.S. Department of Transportation Awards Over $77 Million in Grants to Improve Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety…

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced that it has awarded $77.3 million in grants to states and educational institutions to enhance commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety.

“Safety is the Department’s top priority and these grants will further assist state and local officials in their efforts to prevent commercial motor vehicle crashes,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

FMCSA announced: $43.3 million in High Priority (HP) grants to enhance states’ commercial motor vehicle safety efforts, as well as advance technological capability within states. $32 million in Commercial Driver’s

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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PLC Supporting Member Spotlight: Chalmers Insurance Group

BRIDGTON - Bob Logan grew up in a family business - R.G. Johnson Co. - that has relied on local loggers for the raw material to make custom wooden baseball bats for nearly a century, so his job as Logging Insurance Advisor for Chalmers Insurance Group comes naturally to him.

“We leaned heavily on the local logging community to provide us with quality white ash, rock maple, and yellow birch, and so that just drew me in from the insurance side to want to jump on board and start working with these guys that I’ve known for a very long time,” Bob said.

Chalmers Insurance Group is a Preferred Supporting Member of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) and a strong supporter of all the organization’s efforts on behalf of Maine loggers as well as PLC’s Annual Log A Load for Maine Kids events and PLC Safety Trainings. Joining the PLC was a natural fit for the agency, Bob said.

“If it wasn’t for these loggers I can’t imagine how our economy would be in this area, so from an insurance standpoint I think it was pretty important to Chalmers to try to do what they could to keep those businesses thriving

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

and safe and bring a good risk management perspective to them,” Bob said.

Chalmers Insurance Group is a fourth-generation family-owned and operated business founded in 1857, proudly serving businesses and individuals from eight offices throughout Maine and New Hampshire.

The fourth generation of the Chalmers family took the reins of the company in January 2018 when Bruce and Bill Chalmers transferred ownership of the Chalmers Insurance Group to cousins Jim Chalmers and Dottie Chalmers Cutter, who have joined President Stephen P. Cote in leading the agency.

For logging businesses, Chalmers Insurance Group offers general liability and umbrella liability coverage, worker’s compensation coverage, equipment and fire suppression coverage, commercial auto insurance, and employee benefits coverage. The agency also offers claims advocacy, risk management, and expert advice.

Chalmers company culture is guided by these four simple values—SHIP: clients.

*We work hard to deliver excellent Service to our

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Photos: Opposite, Bob Logan, Logging Insurance Advisor for Chalmers Insurance Group.

Above: Cousins Jim Chalmers and Dottie Chalmers Cutter are the fourth generation to lead Chalmers Insurance Group.

*We are trusted insurance advisors and pride ourselves on being Honest. *Community Involvement is integrated into everyday life. *As Passionate professionals, we share our values with co-workers, clients and partners.

“Here at Chalmers they already had a good number of logging accounts on the books prior to that acquisition, but Phil Lovejoy and Scott Lovejoy, his son, were really the ones who had the largest line of PLC contractors, that was something that was a really big part of their family agency, just getting involved with the loggers and helping that community grow stronger,” Bob said.

When Bob became an agent for Chalmers based in “Chalmers Logging Insurance is committed to the Parsonfield office serving local loggers he asked them helping clients implement what he could do to help them sound risk management out, and with typical directness practices and control costs. most said, “lower my Being a family owned insurance costs.” business ourselves, we enjoy Not long after he guiding and supporting began working in the industry, business owners’ efforts for Bob met PLC Executive thoughtful succession Director Dana Doran and planning, continuous training Membership Coordinator Jessica Clark at Woodsmen’s and offering competitive employee benefits packages to Day at the Fryeburg Fair and after talking with them assist with building and retaining a strong team,” President quickly realized that the work the PLC was doing and its Cote, said. focus on safety could in fact help his loggers lower their The agency has expanded over the years, and one costs. He approached the leadership at Chalmers to suggest of the key moves that led to its current strong relationship joining PLC, to which they quickly agreed. with Maine loggers was the 2007 acquisition of the Lovejoy Agency Parsonfield office.

Chalmers

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Chalmers

Continued from Page 25

“For Chalmers, it was a no brainer to step up and support moving forward with that so we could really help our contractors be better risk managed and have fewer claims and keep insurance costs down for everybody,” Bob said.

PLC Member R.C. McLucas of Porter is a client of Chalmers, and speaks highly of the agency.

"They're also family-owned, and they've treated us accordingly, like family and friends," said Gayla McLucas.

"They're also very savvy about all aspects of insurance business and personal."

Chalmers Insurance Group is committed to its clients and their communities, and the company admires the similar commitment by PLC logging contractors, who are generous hard-working community members and community supporters.

“By being a Supporting Member I would say it really gives us the opportunity to hear their voice, and it really allows for us to gain additional knowledge of the Gorham, Norway, Parsonfield and York and New industry and try to build our program in a way that stays Hampshire offices in North Conway and Ossipee. out ahead of things to be more pro-active rather than reactive,” Bob said. “I’m excited every day to come to work to try to find ways to give back to them to help their Learn more about Chalmers Insurance Group at businesses thrive to keep their employees safer and just be www.chalmersinsurancegroup.com or call Bob Logan at a helpful part of the whole process.”

(207) 625-3262.

Chalmers Insurance Group is headquartered in Bridgton, Maine with other Maine offices in Fryeburg,

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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Check out the PLC Online Store!

Looking for great PLC items and apparel? Gifts? First Aid packs, safety items and more?

You will find them at the new PLC Online Store on our web site. Ordering is easy. Check it out at the link below!

Go to: http:// maineloggers.com/ product-category/ products/

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Above: Some of the items currently available at the PLC Online Store. More will be added. Christmas is coming!

Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Acadia Insurance to Distribute Premium Dividends to Eligible PLC Safety Group Members WESTBROOK, Maine (9, 2019) Acadia Insurance, a W. R. Berkley Company®, recently announced that it will pay over $890,000 in premium dividends to eligible policyholder members of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) Safety Group. Since 1999, Acadia has distributed over $10 million in premium dividends to eligible participants of this safety group.

Founded by Acadia Insurance, the PLC Safety Group dividend program rewards logging companies and sole proprietors for having a safe workplace by refunding a portion of their insurance premium if certain measures are met by the entire safety group. In addition, Acadia Insurance, in coordination with the PLC, provides risk management and mitigation expertise to members to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the logging industry in Maine.

“Acadia Insurance is very happy to issue dividends to eligible PLC members once again,” said Jonathan Becker, Regional Vice President of Acadia Insurance’s Maine office. “The PLC members have been great stewards of the Maine forests and they continue to be vital to Maine’s economy. The PLC members have been dedicated in keeping a safe work environment for many years now. These dividends prove the great work they do every day.”

The PLC of Maine has been serving loggers since 1995 and aims to give independent logging

contractors a voice in the ever changing logging industry. The PLC focuses on advocacy, safety, quality operations and business innovation for loggers.

The PLC is a logging organization run by loggers that understands the importance of the logging industry and its impact on the Maine economy.

For more information about the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Safety Group, please contact Kim Farquhar, Marketing Director, Acadia Insurance, at kimberly.farquhar@acadia-ins.com.

About Acadia Insurance Acadia Insurance is a regional underwriter offering commercial and specialty property casualty insurance coverages through independent insurance agents with local offices in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. Rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, Acadia Insurance Company is a member company of W. R. Berkley Corporation, one of the nation’s premier commercial lines property casualty insurance providers. Please visit www.acadiainsurance.com. ###

Alex Labonville, Sales Manager Cell: 207-233-4801 www.labonville.com

Ask about special PLC of Maine member only discounts!

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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Emergency Action Plan

By Donald Burr PLC Safety & Training Coordinator safety@maineloggers.com

Delorme Map - Page number and grid location.

This is so Lifeflight can compare the coordinates with the map page and grid to see if they agree. (ie. Page # 29 / Grid C - 1)

In the example below, you will see how I lay the directions out. I have included a picture of our signs so the person making the call can describe what the signs to our Today we are going over the purpose and need for job look like to the dispatchers without relying on their an “Emergency Action Plan” (EAP). own memory for the description.

The OSHA 1910.266 App A standard reads that we need to put an (EAP) into our first aid kits. After reviewing the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (NEC) Maine Logger Study results article, the good news is that over 80% of the loggers surveyed had an emergency action plan. The bad news is that still leaves 20% who do not have plans.

An EAP is essentially a script that you go to when an emergency happens on your job. This way you have the emergency numbers, directions and coordinates for your job at hand and you don’t need to make them up on the spot. I have seen a few different ways these can be written.

My nature is to make them simple to avoid confusion as much as possible. I start at a known location like an intersection, fire station or even a street address. Then give the distance to each turn and any road landmarks (ie. bridges, sharp corners, steep hills). I also research which way emergency service will come from so that my directions will make sense to the ambulance, fire department, forest rangers, game wardens or police. The last company that I worked for also gave them to the truck drivers for the first time they come to the job. Occasionally we would write special directions for the trucks from multiple directions.

I include in the emergency action plans the following: A Title and a Date - So you can always see plainly which job the directions are for in case an old one gets left behind in the 1st aid kit. Remember the old adage “in with the new out with the old”.

Important phone numbers - I generally don’t give more than “911”. Sometimes I add Lifeflight’s direct number 1-888-421-4228. My thought process is that if I can only get one call out “911” connects you to a regional dispatch that can bring resources from multiple agencies including Lifeflight. Many times at incidents we need more hands and a regional dispatch can reach out to game wardens, forest rangers, local fire departments and EMS responders at the same time with the same information.

Lifeflight Landing Coordinates - They can use any coordinate system but they prefer degrees, minutes, seconds. (ie. N 45* 08’ 34.8” / W 070* 25’ 35.1”)

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

The OSHA standard says that these directions need to be in the 1st aid kit but I didn’t stop there. I also made directions for every pickup and I always had them in my machine where I kept the paperwork for the job so I could give directions without digging in the 1st aid kit if I was called on to make “The Call” but I was not close enough to render aid.

The last word on the emergency action plan is to train your employees on the importance of these plans, how to use them and where they need to be stored and managed. We can go through all the work in gathering the data, preparing the plan, printing, and distributing the plan to the crew and having them not know what to do with the plan or where the plan is would be a shame.

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Ted Clark, CLCS, Loss Control Consultant, Acadia Insurance Quarterly Safety Meeting: Hot Work and Fire Watches *The person should be positioned in an area where One of the leading causes of equipment and garage they can monitor the entire work area. fires is hot work. According to OSHA, hot work can be defined as, “any work that involves burning, welding, cutting, brazing, soldering, grinding, using fire- or spark*They should watch where the slag is going and producing tools, or other work that produces a source of ensure that it is not getting into areas such as machine belly ignition.” While hot work on machinery is typically pans or trash cans where combustible debris tends to build minimal such as repairing a crack or shortening a chain, up. there is a significant hazard presented from wood debris build up, hydraulic fluids, and diesel fuel, not to mention *They should be prepared to stop the operation if a the external hazards such as other items in your garage or hazard arises. the woods you are working in. A small piece of slag that falls unnoticed into debris is capable of burying itself into *A fire extinguisher should be on hand with the tightly packed debris and smoldering for hours or days until the right combination of heat, fuel and oxygen are present fire watch trained and ready to immediately extinguish a fire if one should occur. and the fire erupts.

Fires resulting from hot work typically lead to damage ranging from melted hoses and wires up to a total *They should have means of communication loss of a building. Regardless of how minor, the thing all available to immediately call 9-1-1 and summon help when fires have in common is they result in a frustrating cleanup necessary. and significant downtime.

While there are Conclusion many steps that can, and should, be taken during hot When a machine or work, this safety meeting garage catches fire, the will focus only on fire flames can grow rapidly to watch, a critical safeguard the point where it cannot be that is often missed. extinguished with a fire extinguisher or a fire What is a “fire suppression system. This watch”? increases the likelihood that the fire will result in a total loss of a structure and OSHA requires a potentially injury to fire watch any time hot work is taking place and combustible items, such as debris, workers. A fire watch, when positioned properly, trained and alert, will be able to provide early warning of a fire cannot be removed from the area.

Typically a person performing hot work is paying hazard, which can significantly decrease the likelihood of a such close attention to the work they are executing that they major fire resulting from hot work. are not able to monitor their work area adequately, allowing for hot debris, such as slag, to potentially enter areas with combustible materials. Think of a fire watch as simply an additional set of eyes that have a full view of the work area Acadia Insurance is pleased to share this material with and can monitor the combustible materials. If a fire is its customers. Please note, however, that nothing in this noticed, the fire watch will be able to immediately summon document should be construed as legal advice or the provision of help and extinguish the fire before it gets too large for a professional consulting services. This material is for general handheld extinguisher. informational purposes only, and while reasonable care has been How do you conduct a fire watch?

utilized in compiling this information, no warranty or representation is made as to accuracy or completeness.

*Meeting sign-in sheet on the back! Cut along dotted line to left to detach this section.

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*This sign-in sheet is intended to be used with the quarterly Safety Training Topic on page 31. Refer to the cutline on page 31 when removing it from the magazine.

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

The Northeast Logger Health and Safety Study higher than the all-worker fatality rate. That said, the logging industry varies throughout the United States, and *This article by what is happening in one state or region may not reflect the NEC first what is going on in Maine. The largest logging state in the appeared in the Northeast, Maine was the logical place to start our work.

Survey says... To better understand the health and August 2019 edition of the safety needs of loggers in Maine, the study team has been conducting quarterly surveys since spring of 2018. All told, Northern 392 loggers have taken part in an initial survey and 307 Logger and continue to provide feedback. These loggers hail from all Timber Processor. It is over Maine. The average age of a participating logger is 48, but some are fresh out of high school, and some have reprinted by worked over 50 years in the industry. Forty-five percent of permission. the study group have logged for 20 years or less, with the other 55% having more than 20 years of experience. While The first project of its kind in the Northeast, the the vast majority of the group are men, there are some Maine Logger Health and Safety Study focuses solely on women loggers taking part in the project. understanding the health and safety concerns of Maine’s A broad representation of the industry. Different loggers. The study is a project of the Northeast Center for types of logging operations are well represented in the Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry, study, with 22% being conventional loggers, 72% and Fishing (NEC), which promotes health and safety mechanized, and another 6% working in both conventional research, education, and prevention activities in the highand mechanical logging. The chart on the next page shows risk areas of logging, farming, and commercial fishing. the mix of company sizes by number of employees. There Serving a twelve-state region from Maine to West are almost 200 unique companies represented in this Virginia, the NEC has an extensive track record of research. Feedback from conducting research and such a large and diverse developing safety and group of loggers health solutions for a wide strengthens the study variety of occupational findings. concerns. Its Lifejackets Safety first. The for Lobstermen project is industry’s emphasis on currently working to safety is apparent in the improve lifejacket designs project’s initial survey for lobstermen along the results. Over 80% of coasts of Maine and loggers report that their Massachusetts. company has an Previously, the NEC emergency action plan, worked with Mainers to with most reviewing the improve ergonomic plan each time a worksite designs of blueberry rakes changes. Sixty percent of and apple buckets. loggers had safety Combining the power of training in the 12 weeks data with the strength of prior to the survey. There industry partnerships, the PLC Member Brian Bell (Balanced Forestry) undergoing health are differences in reported Maine Logger Health and screening with Erika Scott, NEC Deputy Director. percentages of safety Safety Study is the NEC’s training depending on first major long-term company size, with workers from sole operations or project in the forestry industry of the Northeast. smaller companies (2-10 employees) having safety training Nationally, logging is still one of the deadliest less frequently than larger companies (11 to 50, or more professions, with only commercial fishing having a higher than 50 employees).

This isn’t very surprising, as larger fatality rate in 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor companies often have more resources dedicated to training Statistics. The fatal injury rate for loggers is 24 times and other human resources needs.

NEC Continued Page 34

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NEC

Continued from Page 33

Health Report. On the health side of things, initial survey findings show that two-thirds of loggers had an annual checkup in the last year. However, one out of five loggers still does not have health insurance.

Of all loggers, two out of every five currently experience musculoskeletal pain. More than one in every 17 loggers report having a work-related injury or illness in the past year.

In addition to learning about Maine loggers through surveys, the project team met over 80 loggers this spring by offering free health screenings around Maine. The researchers and health practitioners who provided the health exams received a warm welcome and learned a great deal by talking to the loggers in person. Loggers received a $25 LL Bean gift card for participating in a health screening, which included the following services free of charge: *Checkup with a doctor or nurse practitioner *Blood Pressure *Cholesterol Test *Blood Sugar Test *Hearing Exam *Lung Function Test *Carbon Monoxide Test (measures levels of CO from smoking) *Vision Test *Height/Weight Many of the health screenings were set up in logging company garages in conjunction with Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Spring Trainings. Two days of free health screenings at the Logger Expo in Bangor were also offered. The project team will conduct more free health screenings across the state in spring of 2020.

A major part of this project is sharing the data with the logging community and understanding what loggers feel are the most important issues to tackle next. We’ll be holding discussion forums with loggers and industry leaders across Maine to discuss next steps throughout 2020.

You can learn more about this project by visiting http://www.necenter.org/forestry/research/ or searching @MaineLoggerHealthSafetyStudy on Facebook.

Leave us a comment if you have thoughts on the most important health and safety issues for Maine loggers. You can reach out directly to the project team at neclogging@bassett.org or (800) 343-7527.

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Mechanized Logging Operations Program 2019

Students and instructors in the 2019 MLOP Class COPLIN - Fifteen graduates of Maine’s only post- Perreault of Chesterville, Tiahna Cyr of Caribou, Corey White of Rumford, Jessica Michalik of Madison, and secondary training program for operators of mechanized logging equipment were recognized Thursday, Sept. 19 at Logan Malm of Caribou. an event held in the woods of Western Maine where they The Mechanized Logging Operations Program spent weeks harvesting timber using sophisticated state-of- (MLOP) was launched in 2017 thanks to a partnership the-art machines like those they will encounter in the between three Maine community colleges, the PLC, and logging industry. industry partners including Milton CAT and Nortrax/John Deere. This is the third class to complete the program.

Friends and family members of the students were joined by members of the Professional Logging Contractors “This program provides a direct pathway to a good of Maine (PLC); representatives of Northern Maine -paying, exciting career in the Maine woods at a time when Community College including President Tim Crowley; there is huge demand for new workers,” Dana Doran, state officials including Commissioner of Maine's Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, of Maine, said. “There is no better or more efficient way to Amanda Beal, and Maine State Forester Patty Cormier; and gain the experience and knowledge you need to become an industry sponsors to share a proud day with the students equipment operator in the logging industry. These students who completed the program's rigorous requirements. should be proud of this achievement and expect to reap significant professional rewards from it, and the many Graduates included: Travis Merritt of Houlton, contributors to the success of this program should be proud Patrick Prescott of Livermore, Garrett Colbath of Exeter, that it is affording this opportunity and offering such a Michael Schools of Littleton, Jaden Castonguay of quality experience that every student that began the Livermore, Ahren Harrison of Stacyville, Payton Ross of program this summer finished it - a 100 percent completion Rangeley, Cameron Favreau of Pittston, Andrew Cole of rate.”

New Limerick, Tylar Pickering of Byron, William MLOP

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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MLOP

Continued from Page 35

“This program is a great example of how workforce needs can be addressed when education, industry and government work together,” Northern Maine Community College President Timothy Crowley, said. “These students will not only be contributing to the logging industry but also to the economy and quality of life, in Maine.”

The program gives students a broad overview of the most common mechanical systems found in modern timber harvesting equipment, and an understanding of the variables of timber growth, tree species, and markets. It also includes a strong emphasis on safety.

Students who are accepted into the program pay no tuition, but are responsible for transportation, housing, and food costs.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided by the program.

While the logging industry has seen some contraction in recent years due to the loss of pulp and paper mills, the industry is rebounding and the demand for skilled operators of the feller bunchers, harvesters, grapple skidders, forwarders, delimbers, and other mechanized logging equipment that now harvests 95 percent of all timber in Maine is strong. Many current operators are reaching retirement age and the steep costs of training new operators is driving up demand and wages.

The hands-on experience students gain operating equipment for weeks in the woods is something unavailable anywhere else in Maine and neighboring states.

It generally takes at least a year of training and experience before an operator becomes skilled enough to run mechanized logging equipment safely and efficiently. The cost for companies to train these operators themselves is approximately $100,000 each.

It was for this reason that the PLC partnered with the Maine Community College System and industry to create the program. It was jointly developed by the PLC and Northern Maine Community College (NMCC), Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC), and Washington County Community College (WCCC) with generous support from Milton CAT/CAT Forest Products, Nortrax Inc./John Deere, and other industry partners.

The program has been supported since its inception through Maine Quality Centers, a program to develop and support skilled in-demand and high wage occupations in Maine.

More information on the program is available online at http://www.nmcc.edu/industry-customized-training/ mechanized-forest-operations/

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Photos: Top: 2019 Graduates pose for family pictures.

Middle: U.S. Sen. Susan Collins visits the program.

Bottom: U.S. Rep. Jared Golden driving a forwarder during a visit to the program.

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

The Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan program

By Tom Gilbert Water Resources Specialist Maine Forest Service

The Maine Forest Service’s Division of Forest Policy and Management (MFS), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the Maine Municipal Bond Bank (MMBB) have teamed up to offer a mechanism to provide incentive financing to loggers that reduces nonpoint source pollution risk on timber harvests in Maine.

Background Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan Program utilizes Clean Water State Revolving Loan Funds to provide low-interest rate financing for Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs). The purpose of providing this financial incentive is to increase the use of BMPs and environmentally friendly logging equipment in the logging $800,000. This, in turn, will help to protect and improve water quality in and around logging operations.

Program Description Current Master Loggers are eligible to obtain low-interest financing from participating banks through a Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan Program. MFS will: 1) determine the items that are eligible for financing, 2) ensure that the logger is second or third party certified, 3) ensure that the logger retains, on file, a harvest plan and 4) monitor the improvements and practices of the logger.

The DEP and MMBB will: 1) enter into a memorandum of understanding with MFS to implement the program, 2) work with local banks to participate in the program, and 3) provide oversight within the context of managing the Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan Program.

The table below outlines some of the potential purchases that could be made through the Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan Program.

However, equipment purchases will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with eligibility being based on whether or not the equipment is needed to facilitate the implementation of Forestry Best Management Practices. As new technologies become available, they will also be considered for inclusion into the direct link loan program: Low impact forestry equipment such as low impact forwarders, forwarder trailers and low impact harvesters may also be eligible for the DLL program.

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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PLC News Briefs...

The PLC was represented at the American Logger’s Council Summer 2019 meeting of the ALC Board of Directors in Portland, Oregon in July by PLC Board Members Andy Irish and Chuck Ames, and PLC Executive Director Dana Doran. Andy is Secretary/ Treasurer of the ALC. Loggers from across the USA were hosted by Daimler’s Western Star headquarters and manufacturing facility in Oregon, and got the opportunity to tour those facilities as well as meet with President David Carson and his top marketing and engineering staff. Thanks to Andy and Chuck for representing the interests of Maine loggers at the national level.

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Great to see so many PLC Members, Supporting Members, Master Loggers, friends, and supporters of our efforts at this year’s Woodsmen’s Day at the 2019 Fryeburg Fair.

Thanks for stopping by to see us!

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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As We See It: August 2019 “Crossing the Finish Line”

By Danny Dructor The American Loggers Council, working with other like-minded organizations such as the Forest Resources Association, have been successful in getting two bills introduced in this Congress that can have a positive impact on the timber harvesting industry and assist with bringing the next generation of logging businesses into the industry.

The two bills are the Safe Routes Act of 2019, S.1509 in the Senate and H.R. 2453 in the House which would allow log trucks to access the Federal Interstate Highway System with state legal tolerances when those safer routes are available to the mills, and the second is the Future Logging Careers Act, S.818 in the Senate and H.R. 1785 in the House, which would allow the 16 and 17 year-old sons and daughters of logging business owners to legally work in their parent’s businesses much like the sons and daughters of farmers are currently allowed to do.

We have received bipartisan support for both bills in the House and Senate and the Safe Routes currently has 7 cosponsors in the House and 2 in the Senate and the Future Logging Careers Act has 16 cosponsors in the House and 7 in the Senate.

We need many more in order to get either of these bills out of Committee and on the floor of the House and Senate for a final vote. In order to do that, we need your help. We have posted action alerts to both our Facebook® page and website (www.amloggers.com) as well as sent out a separate action alert to all of you who have signed on to receive our monthly newsletter, but obviously that still isn’t enough to get the word out.

We are asking you to visit our website and/or American Loggers Council Facebook® page and click on the action alert that will take you directly to a prewritten letter that will go directly to your Congressman or Congresswoman as well as your two Senators

requesting that they support the legislation. We also ask that you help us to spread the need for support as far and wide as possible in order to get more attention drawn to the legislation by your representatives in DC. If Congress only hears from a few of us, they will not react, but when we are all working together, we will be hard to ignore. Partisan politics has become the status quo for many of our representatives in Washington, DC these days. For those of us outside the beltway who are impacted by the inability of Washington to pass even common sense legislation, one of our few hopes is to convince those members who are playing the political game that their job security rests on satisfying their constituents back home in their districts and States, and not just their allegiance to the “Party.”

If we are to have a chance of getting either of these bills across the finish line, then we have to work together as a unified industry and do our part by contacting our representative directly. The electronic tool that we are providing via our website and social media site only require about 5 minutes of your time to take that action. Please assist us in putting pressure on your representatives to support both of these bills and ask that they cosponsor both pieces of legislation. We are “Loggers Working for Loggers.”

The American Loggers Council is an 501(c)(6) not for profit trade association representing professional timber harvesters throughout the United States. For more information please contact the American Loggers Council at 409-625-0206, or americanlogger@aol.com, or visit our website at www.amloggers.com.

We Support Maine Loggers 40

Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

As We See It Sept. 2019 “Success Starts at Home”

By Danny Dructor The American Loggers Council is described as “loggers working for loggers.” The forest products industry is very broad and diverse in our country, ranging from forest land owners to manufacturers. The ALC works to promote and strengthen the whole industry.

However at the end of the day, we are the only organization that focuses on supporting the needs and interests of professional timber harvesters. As loggers, we must stand up, speak out and support each other, because nobody else will.

“Loggers working for loggers” is a constant theme of our “As We See It” columns not only because it defines who we are, but how we as loggers can be most effective. The strength of our organizations is our members- our 30 state and regional logging association members and our individual members. The ALC is at its best when everyone works as a well-oiled machine to achieve a shared goal, whether it’s passing legislation, promoting professional logging standards, or improving safety for log truck operators. When one part isn’t working, the machine tends to break down. And when loggers are active at the grassroots level, there’s nothing that we can’t accomplish.

I was reminded of this in June, when individual loggers and log truck drivers organized themselves as “Timber Unity” at the end of the Oregon legislative session. Concerned about proposed “cap and trade” legislation, these individuals got together on Facebook and put together demonstrations at the State Capitol unlike anyone in Salem had ever seen. Its third demonstration, consisting of hundreds of log trucks, attracted thousands of people in the timber industry to make their voices heard. Timber Unity was successful in helping to defeat this harmful legislation, which as a top priority of the state’s governor and legislative leaders.

These loggers and log truck drivers didn’t show up because they were called upon by the

Associated Oregon Loggers (AOL), our member association representing over a thousand logging companies. They showed up because they got informed-thanks to AOL’s efforts to educate them--about how this legislation would affect them, and were passionate enough to put their work and businesses aside to go to the Capitol and make a difference. It is an example of how our industry is stronger when an association, with its professional staff and lobby team, is supplemented by an organic and truly-authentic grassroots effort of people supporting each other.

The ALC was launched 25 years ago when a group of loggers decided we needed a strong, consistent presence in order to impact issues on a national level. As a trade association, we are stronger than ever. But an association itself cannot solve all the problems facing an industry. It requires commitment by individuals to get educated and to take the time to contact their legislators, attend the meetings and ultimately influence the decisions.

ALC and its association members will continue to travel to Washington DC to work on our shared priorities.

Yet success for our industry always starts at home, at the grassroots level, of individuals taking responsibility for themselves to get involved and make things happen.

That’s the true definition of “loggers working for loggers.”

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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As We See It October 2019 “The State of the American Loggers Council”

By Danny Dructor Advocacy: The ALC has increased its advocacy This year the American Loggers Council celebrates its 25th Anniversary. Over the past quarter century, we have efforts on issues important to loggers, becoming an active overcome significant challenges and today we have become participant on Capitol Hill, and working with both recognized as the premier organization representing the Republicans and Democrats. independent logging contractors. We have gained respect not only from our peers in the industry, but the policy makers who *Attendance for the ALC’s annual Washington DC Fly-in make the decisions in Washington that will have an impact on continues to increase, with 81 attendees in 2019. *We recognize the importance of working across the aisle, and all of our logging businesses. secured bipartisan, bicameral sponsors for key legislative Since 2011, the ALC has embarked on a priorities including the Safe Routes Act and the Future Careers comprehensive strategic planning process that has continually in Logging Act. helped us define who we are as an organization, where we are, *ALC members actively engage with the Federal Motor Carrier and where we should be headed. The following is a review of Safety Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of the Interior. our recent accomplishments as a result of this effort: *The ALC is an active member of the Federal Timber The state of the American Loggers Council is Purchasers Committee and is partnering with the U.S. Forest Service on its forest products modernization efforts to better strong, but we’re always working to do better. meet the needs of loggers. *The ALC has met or exceeded yearly targets for new *To support our advocacy efforts, the ALC has partnered with memberships and sponsorships, and we continue to work on Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities to enable loggers to contact their congressional representatives with a couple clicks. recruiting new voting memberships. *The ALC continues to develop programs that benefit not only Communications and outreach: The ALC is our membership, but those sponsors who have supported us over the years. Examples include the rebate programs being reaching more people to promote our organization, get offered from Peterbilt and Western Star and the ongoing more loggers engaged on the issues, and to support our development of a survey that all of our sponsors should find of sponsors. value. *We have established a new ALC advisory subcommittee to *Our Facebook page now has over 90,000 followers, reaching encourage more participation and engagement among our 300,000 Facebook users per month on average. sponsors, which gives our sponsors more opportunities to better *We have launched an Instagram page to reach more people on the fastest-growing social media platform. understand their markets and logging business trends. *The ALC has sponsored programs and established new *The ALC distributes a monthly electronic newsletter, partnerships to serve the logging profession, such as Team featuring our regular “As We See It” column that is published SAFE Trucking and *ALC Master Logger Certification to in major industry publications. improve log truck safety and professional logging standards, *We have increased our presence in the news media through the distribution of press releases that have been picked up by respectively. *Thanks to our members and sponsors, the ALC’s finances the Associated Press and hundreds of newspapers across the have grown and become stable to allow the association to nation. remain responsive to timely issues and actions. In recent years, *The ALC has increased its grassroots outreach by appearing in the ALC has maintained reserves, though new funding sources logging shows and conferences throughout the nation, will be required to ensure we can continue to support all our including the Oregon Logging Conference, Loggers Expo in Bangor, ME, Loggers Plus Expo in Bloomsberg, PA, Sierra programs.

Cascade Logging Conference in Anderson, CA and others.

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Australian contractor certification reviewer visits Northeast him understand the program and the benefits Master Loggers David Bennett spent much of this spring traveling participants find in it, including pride, professionalism, a across the world to evaluate the risks and benefits of forest marketing edge for their businesses, and - depending on what contractor certification programs with an eye toward region of the country they are in - other benefits that can adapting the best practices he observed to strengthen forest management and the logging industry in his native Australia. include insurance advantages and preference from mills and Traveling on a stipend from the Gottstein Trust, the other timber consumers.

Master Logger Certification is set apart from logger Risk and Compliance Manger for PF Olsen Australia spent a training programs in that it requires independent third party week in Maine with the Northeast Master Logger verification of logger harvesting practices. Because Master Certification (NEMLC) program midway through his trip.

He found many strengths in the program, but one really stood Logger Certification is a voluntary, earned designation based on performance, it awards the certification only to true out. professionals in the industry who are willing to go through “I think probably the biggest strength of Master the evaluation process, something attendance based Logger is it’s got such contractor ownership of it,” training programs were never designed to do.

David said weeks later in a call from Sweden as he was Some countries David visited have no formal nearing the end of his trip. “It’s got a real standard that certification program at all, others have quite rigorous contractors administer and own, I haven’t found oversight of loggers, but David observed that while anything else like that anywhere in the world.”

David’s observations about the program offer a rare certification practices may differ, loggers across the world chance to hear firsthand how the Master Logger Certification share many of the same issues. Uncertain markets, ongoing program compares to other systems in place around the world. Long billed proudly as the only system of harvest verification created and controlled by loggers themselves, his experiences reviewing logging certification in multiple locations across Canada, the United States, and Europe suggest that claim is a valid and valuable one.

In some of the locations he visited, David did not get Maine Master Logger Marc the opportunity to meet with loggers but instead dealt with Greaney of Western Maine public or private organizations administering whatever Timberlands Inc., at left, with certification or logger oversight programs existed. During his David Bennett. visit to Maine, he therefore greatly appreciated the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Master Loggers in the woods on active logging jobs, at their places of business, and safety risks, growing costs and environmental regulations, at a safety training event in Fort Kent, Maine offered by the and difficulty attracting and retaining the next generation of loggers are common to many locations including his native state’s logger trade association, The Professional Logging Australia. He also observed that in most places, logging Contractors of Maine (PLC), and NEMLC and open to all companies are predominantly family businesses, often Maine Master Loggers. second or third generation.

“The training session I attended in Fort Kent was There was great value in meeting loggers and others some of the most practical training I’ve seen anywhere,” involved in the forest economy around the globe, David said, David said. and he concluded there is a lot we can all learn from each David got the opportunity to meet dozens of Maine other. David is now preparing a report for his sponsor the Master Loggers, and visited multiple harvest sites of Master Gottstein Foundation and is progressively publishing Logger company Western Maine Timberlands Inc. He left information on the website he created for this project (https:// with a very favorable impression of Master Loggers, and of dgbgottstein2019.me/) the program.

“Forestry people like talking to other forestry Ted Wright, Executive Director of the NEMLC and people, and it’s something we should do more often,” David the Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands, which said. administers the program, spent three days with David helping

The 2018 TheLogger’s Logger’sVoice Voice▪ Winter ▪ Fall 2019

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Congressional Delegation Updates Maine’s timber industry is an integral part of our economy and continues to be the primary economic driver of countless rural communities throughout our State. To prevent severe worker shortages and to provide good jobs, it is essential that the next generation be prepared for the logging profession as experienced operators of modern timber harvesting equipment.

I recently visited the Mechanized Logging Operations Program (MLOP), a three-month training Sen. Susan Collins program, located in the woods of Western Maine. MLOP is an outstanding initiative created in partnership among the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine; Northern Maine, Eastern Maine, and Washington County Community Colleges; logging contractors; and industry partners including Milton CAT and Nortrax.

Students enrolled in this training program are spending the summer learning how to safely harvest timber using the sophisticated state-of-the-art machines they will encounter in the logging industry. This summer’s class of 15 students is the third since the program launched in 2017.

It was inspiring to meet these young Mainers who are passionate about learning new skills that will propel them on a promising career path and strengthen our state’s forestry sector. MLOP is an excellent example of the type of robust workforce development we need to create and sustain good jobs.

This terrific program is made possible by a remarkable collaboration among instructors, logging contractors, landowners, and equipment manufacturers. Just as impressive is the determination of the students to succeed. During my visit, I watched as Tia Cyr, a young woman from Aroostook County, expertly harvested large trees on just her second day of training on that piece of equipment. It was an impressive accomplishment.

Along with learning new skills, the students are taught how to navigate the industry and how to stay safe in the woods. Students are responsible for paying for their transportation, housing, and food costs. All other expenses such as tuition and personal protective equipment are made possible by both Maine Quality Centers and Put ME to Work grants.

According to the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, approximately 95 percent of logging in our State now relies on heavy mechanized equipment. It usually takes at least a year of training and experience before an operator becomes skilled enough to run this equipment safely and efficiently, and the cost for companies to train each of these operators themselves is about $100,000. This three-month professional training program introduces participants to state-of-the-art logging machinery and equipment, and the program provides a more efficient pathway to train new technicians.

Mechanized logging operators are among the highest paid members of the logging workforce. A study conducted in 2014 by the PLC found the average annual salary for workers employed by logging firms in Maine was nearly $43,000. Many current operators are reaching retirement age, and the steep costs of training new operators is driving up both demand and wages.

I’ve always been a strong advocate of apprenticeship programs, and MLOP is exactly what we need to move Maine forward and grow our rural economy. I have also cosponsored legislation to support Maine’s forest products industry, including the Future Logging Careers Act to allow parents who own or operate a logging or mechanized operation to employ their 16 and 17-year-old children under certain circumstances.

Maine and its vast forests are neighbors to one of the largest population centers in the country, with a growing demand for advanced, renewable, and environmentally responsible building materials and energy sources. Maine’s natural resources, combined with our spirit of innovation, determination, and new generation of skilled logging professionals, set the stage for a future of endless opportunities.

For generations, Maine’s forest products industry was the backbone of our rural communities, creating high-quality products the state took pride in, providing good jobs for our skilled workforce and bringing millions of dollars into our state – but a number of years ago, both the industry and the region were hit hard by a series of mill closures in the face of shifting market demands.

As employers throughout the state shuttered and thousands of Maine workers lost their jobs, we faced uncertainty: would our prized forest economy ever recover? Today, after major investments in mills located in Old Town, Jay, Rumford, Madison and more, we can confidently say that Maine’s forest economy is in the midst of a resurgence – and even brighter days are ahead.

This success story, and the hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in our state, is the result of a number of factors. This has been an all-hands-on-deck approach; after the U.S. Department of Commerce created the Economic Development Assessment Team at my and Senator Collins’s request, the state received funding to create the Forest Opportunity Roadmap (FOR/Maine Initiative) – bringing together forest economy and community leaders with federal, state and local officials to find solutions and support this industry.

The recommendations that came from this effort have

provided an important roadmap for growth. The industry has seen important investments, helping to support the long-term potential of this sector. Additionally, there has been immense growth in research into new technologies, exploring the potential of new applications of wood fiber ranging from cross-laminated fiber to 3D printing. As the world grows increasingly digital, these new uses of Maine’s plentiful trees will help our industry diversify and succeed.

Sen. Angus King These developments are vital, but they’d mean nothing without Maine’s two most important gifts: our plentiful forests and our creative, adaptive workforce. These resources make it a nobrainer for a company to see the potential of our state for longterm growth. Earlier this summer, I attended the re-opening of the Old Town Mill, where I met with workers who’ve worked at this site before it closed, and others who were relatively new to the industry. To a person, they were smart, forward-thinking, and bullish on the future of this industry – and as long as our state counts them as an asset, I’ll be bullish on the future as well.

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Last time I wrote to you, I farming and forestry, and keeping our current forest-based gave you some of my thoughts on jobs. how Maine’s forest products A resilient forest is more successful against the industry can be a part of threats of invasive species and extreme weather events. combatting climate change. I That’s why it’s critical we continue to invest in forest wanted to write again with some stewardship and responsible practices. Forest bioproducts more of my plans to bring are—and must be—part of the climate solution, as trees foresters to the table. Research by and durable woods can absorb and sequester large amounts 15 institutions shows that nature- of carbon over time. If we focus on sustainably produced based solutions provide up to 37% byproducts, we can economically support rural of the emissions reductions communities and provide long lasting environmental needed by 2030 in order to keep benefits. Maybe we can shift our society’s dependence on Rep. Chellie Pingree our global temperatures from plastics towards an affinity for wood—lowering our rising too drastically. It is greenhouse gas emissions and supporting sustainable important that those working in forestry are able to provide practices. insight as we consider new paths towards a more Progress is within reach; I’m already seeing lots of sustainable planet. businesses and companies replace some of their plastic We’re lucky that existing federal programs usage with wood products. Recently, I toured Wyman’s of recognize forestry’s impacts. The US Forest Service is Maine, where they served us samples of their newest doing extensive research into the industry’s changes and product with wooden spoons rather than plastic. This is funding projects to increase community ownership of only one small step, but I’m looking forward to seeing forests, innovation in wood building, and new uses of more these shifts while also recognizing that support for wood that promote forest stewardship. The “forest census” the entire forest products industry is a much larger and ensures our forests are preserved and not converted into critical task. other uses. The USDA’s Rural Development grant As always, please reach out if we can be of help in programs are also providing technical assistance to any way. Looking forward to hearing from you all transition to locally-sourced, wood-based, renewable soon. energies—connecting people with the land, encouraging

The first time I checked in with Logger’s Voice, I mentioned that one of the very first bills I introduced was focused squarely on small, family businesses in our forest products industry. It’s called the Future Logging Careers Act, and allows 16 and 17-year-olds in Maine to assist their family’s businesses with day to day operations, including operating logging machinery, under Rep. Jared Golden parental supervision.

The idea is to help prepare young Mainers who come from logging families to take up the family trade and to help small logging businesses deal with a shortage of workers in the forest products industry. This is also about fairness. Farming and ranching families already have this exemption and logging families should to.

Gridlock in Washington makes it difficult to pass even common-sense, bipartisan legislation like the Future Logging Careers Act. I’m always looking for ways to break through the dysfunction, which is why I led a bipartisan group of members from across the country, including the Maine congressional delegation,

to call on the Department of Labor to make the change itself. We believe the agency has the authority to do so, and it should use it.

In September, I also visited with students in the Mechanized Logging Operations Program in Stratton.

This program, which is a critical resource for aspiring young loggers in Maine, is organized by the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine and local community colleges. Best of all, it’s provided tuition-free to students thanks to important funding I supported in the state legislature.

Though there is no cost for the program itself, students told me how difficult it was to afford their living expenses without access to standard college funding. We had a productive discussion about opportunities to not only secure better funding for these students, but also for programs like these across the state. Funding professional development for young loggers is a crucial part of solving the workforce shortage currently challenging small Maine logging businesses.

Logging is an integral part of Maine’s economy and Maine’s history. It’s my honor to serve our proud loggers and their families in Congress. I look forward to hearing from you about how I can be helpful moving forward.

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Fall 2019

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Winter 2018

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine 108 Sewall St. P.O. Box 1036 Augusta, ME 04332