The Logger's VOICE - Spring 2020

From the President

By Jim Nicols

Hello Everyone

By the time you read this most everyone will be well into mud season. I hope all of you had a good winter. It seemed to be exceptionally warm and not a lot of snow in Western Maine. It was one of the warmest months of March that I can remember.

We held our legislative breakfast in early March and had a great turnout. It was the largest crowd we’ve had with over 150 people attending. The legislators got an update on the state of our industry and some of our needs moving forward. We talked about some of our successes that we have had working with them and thanked them for all of their efforts.

As a result of the work the legislature did in March, we are pleased to announce that the Mechanized Logging Operations Program will run again. Looks like it is still on track to be held in midsummer. It will begin on Monday, June 22nd in the greater Old Town area.

Labor continues to be one of our greatest challenges and we believe this partnership between our industry and all the partners with this program is making a difference. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out while the school is in session, plan to do so. You will be impressed. Give Donald Burr a call to set up a time to visit or if you have friends or relatives who you feel should be enrolled, please have them apply right away.

I hope everyone is adjusting and adapting to the COVID-19 crisis. It certainly is impacting our membership in the way we conduct business on a daily basis. It is impacting our employees and the vendors that everyone does business with daily. The guidelines and rules have been changing almost daily. It looks like we have been classified as essential businesses. I hesitate to write too much because by the time that this goes to print things might be very different from when I write this.

There is a lot of information out there to guide you with making decisions in running your business in these unique times. Most importantly, stay safe and take all of the precautions that you can to keep yourselves and employees safe.

The PLC can try to help answer questions you may have. Give the office a call and they will do their best to answer them.

By now you probably know that we have postponed our Spring Trainings because of the COVID-19 virus. We will update you on this as more information becomes available and as the crisis lessens.

We have also had to postpone our Annual Meeting to a later date to be announced. It is our 25th anniversary of the PLC. When we know when things can be rescheduled we will get this information to you.

We will get through this difficult situation and adapt. Meanwhile everyone take care of yourselves and your employees. Stay safe.

Thanks, Jimmy

Welcome New Members

A. Chartier Trucking & Logging LLC of Mexico, ME joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in January of 2020. The company has a professional staff of 3. For more information contact Allen Chartier at (207) 592-2144 or email allen.chartier@yahoo.com.

Ancra Cargo joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in January of 2020. Ancra Cargo is a world-class leader in the area of cargo handling and restraint systems. Founded in 1969 with the mission to improve safety and security for the transportation industry, it has grown to be North America’s largest designer and manufacturer of load maximizing systems. With over 100 current patents, Ancra Cargo is dedicated to innovating, designing and manufacturing the highest quality products to meet the evolving needs of customers. Today, the Cargo Systems Group, headquarter in Erlanger, Kentucky, is a leading designer and manufacturer of cargo securement systems for heavy-duty transportation. In addition, the company has manufacturing and distribution locations in Texas, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. For more information contact Tim Varga at 848-444-2767 or email tvarga@ancra.com.

Innovative Natural Resource Solutions LLC of Antrim, New Hampshire joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in January 2020. Founded in 1994, INRS specializes in assisting business, nonprofit and government clients in resolving today’s complex natural resource management and business challenges. Company partners Charles Levesque, Eric Kingsley and Charles Niebling bring over 75 years of extensive experience, energy and creativity to this important work. For more information contact Charles Levesque at (603) 588-3272 or email levesque@inrsllc.com

Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (NEC) of Cooperstown, NY joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in January of 2020. Serving a twelve-state region from Maine through West Virginia, NEC promotes health and safety research, education, and prevention activities in the high-risk

areas of farming, commercial fishing and logging. The NEC is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Learn more at http://www.necenter.org or email NEC.Logging@bassett.org

Sullivan Tire joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in January of 2020. Sullivan Tire is a family owned and operated business and has been serving customers in New England since 1955. The company today has over 1,200 employees of which over 25% have been with the company for 10 years or more, and has over 100 locations across New England. The business consists of four divisions; Retail, Commercial Truck, Wholesale, and Liftworks. For more information contact Rick Despins at (207) 310-1295, email rick.despins@sullivantire.com or go to www.sullivantire.com

Weiler Forestry joined the PLC as a new Enhanced Supporting Member in January of 2020. Weiler Forestry was formed in 2019 to purchase the purposebuilt forestry division of Caterpillar. Weiler Forestry manufactures an expanding line of forest products through facilities located in LaGrange, Georgia, Smithfield, North Carolina and Auburn, Alabama. Weiler Forestry will design and manufacture purpose-built forestry products, which will continue to be available through the Cat dealer network, providing customers with the same outstanding sales and service support they’ve come to expect. Production of Weiler Forestry machines began in September 2019. For more information contact Dirk Nielsen at 819) 790-0946 or email dnielsen@weilerforestry.com.

the Executive Director

Uncharted Waters

By Dana Doran

It’s April 1st and the snow has already melted in many parts of the state and will soon in others. We might still have another storm or two, but that will just amount to more mud, longer road postings and a bunch of delays. Snow doesn’t help at this time of year.

The roads have been posted in many areas since early February and most if not all of our members have put their equipment in the garage for spring maintenance. This is a rite of passage for loggers in the Northeast. And as challenging as it can be to balance cash flow in the downtime, most folks know that after a very long winter, it’s time to take a break, to do different things and prepare for the next push late spring and early summer. However, this mud season is different in so many ways. It is so different that it may never be repeated in our

lifetimes. As a student of history, before all is forgotten, I thought it would be helpful to summarize all that has happened in the last four weeks, not to pour salt in the wound, but to look back upon it someday if necessary. Of course, I’ve also learned it’s not valuable to repeat history but learn from it and prepare for the future.

The spring of 2020 was supposed to be a time for rest, a time for training and a time for reflection. A time when our members and their employees could get together and talk about the last winter, their struggles, their successes, the good times and the bad. A time to celebrate 25 years of the PLC and what it has done for loggers and truckers in Maine from 1995 – 2020. The month of March came in like a lamb but ended like an angry lion.

We were hearing from the membership in Aroostook County that

From

winter was coming to a close quickly, but it was not because of the weather. Mills were full from winter harvests and many contractors were asked to shut down operations at least two to four weeks sooner than usual. While this was unexpected, it was also explainable as one major mill in Maine had not yet restarted and another was slowly being impacted by something called the coronavirus all the way over in China. While it was frustrating for many, it wasn’t anything that we hadn’t seen or experienced before in the last five years. This too would pass, or so we thought.

The PLC also had its annual legislative breakfast in Augusta on March 5th. Over 50 legislators attended and nearly 125 members and supporting members came to hear about the issues facing the industry and the ways that the Legislature could help. Speaker of the House Sara Gideon joined us and commended the PLC on its role in the legislative process and all of the good work that the organization has done to protect and improve one of Maine’s most important industries. And this also

provided the perfect backdrop for the PLC to release its new economic impact study, which showed that while things have dropped off considerably since 2014, the overall economic impact of logging in Maine as of 2017 was still over $620 million to the Maine economy each year. Our work at the Legislature was also ramping up as we had four or five really important bills/issues still in play and things would get taken care of in the final five weeks of the session.

And lastly, the PLC was planning its annual spring safety trainings for the membership and over 1,000 of their employees to kick off in southern Maine on Thursday, April 2nd and our 25th Annual Meeting celebration was scheduled for Friday, May 8th at the Cross Center in Bangor.

On or around Friday, March 13th, all of that changed in what feels like a 9-11 moment, but also feels like it was years ago at this point.

In what I can only describe as a slow rolling ice storm without the downed

Doran Continued Page 16

CHESTER - Robin A. Crawford Sr. started working in the woods with his brothers when he was 13 years old. He had his first truck in 1965, and in November of 1969 he purchased his first new truck, a 1969 GMC 6500 with tag axle installed, and went on to build one of the most successful logging and trucking companies in Maine.

A member of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) who joined the year the organization formed in 1995, he passed away on March 5 at the age of 74.

The PLC wanted to take this opportunity to honor Robin’s contribution to Maine’s logging and trucking industry, but also to remember the man himself. With the permission of his family and the assistance of Tammy MacEachern, office manager for Robin A. Crawford & Son Woods Co., who collected memories from the family and shared her own, we have written this article in an attempt to do both.

Robin, also known variously as, “RA”, “Bob”, “Push Rod”, “Dad”, “Uncle Bob”, “Pappy”, and “Bobby”, certainly left his mark on Maine’s logging and trucking industry. Born in 1945 in Drew Plantation, in an

area where the woods business was and still is a mainstay of the economy, he grew up surrounded by logging and woods trucking. From a young age, Robin loved trucks, and that never changed.

A graduate of Wytopitlock High School, Class of 1963, it was the same year he wed Lois J. Lawrence, and they went on to raise a family and build a life and a business together.

Today, Robin A. Crawford & Son Woods Co. trucks with the distinctive “C” in the grille are a common sight on the roads of Maine, but in 1965 it was only Robin and the one truck.

From the very beginning, Robin established a reputation for hard work, honesty, and good business sense. His word meant something.

“Bob was a hard worker from a very young age and grew to be a very intelligent businessman,” Tammy said. “A loyal man that took his word very seriously, if he gave someone his word he would do everything he could do to make it happen. He never went back on his word. Bob was a successful businessman because of the man that he was.”

Over the years as he built up his trucking

Robin A. Crawford Sr. 1945-2020

The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) would like to offer condolences to the family of Robin A. Crawford Sr. and to thank them for allowing us to share his story in The Logger’s Voice.

Mr. Crawford was a member of the PLC from its founding on who exemplified the qualities that represent the best of Maine’s logging industry. He will be missed.

Photos:

Background, Robin A Crawford & Son Woods Co. trucks with the distinctive “C” lined up for the day.

Left, Robin more than five decades ago in the early days of his career.

Crawford Continued Page 12

Crawford Continued from Page 11 business in Drew Plantation, Robin became respected as a businessman, and was well liked. He loved to talk to and be around people, and he had a good sense of humor. When in 1987 he decided to get into logging by acquiring a logging company that had gone out of business, he was already successful. Working for Hank McPherson and starting out with eight hand crews, he quickly built success in logging as well.

Over the next two decades Robin A. Crawford & Son Woods Co. expanded and adapted to changes in the industry. The business grew and transitioned from hand crews to mechanized logging. It relocated its main base of operations to Chester in 1996. The trucking fleet expanded as well.

In 2000, Robin bought Lobster Lake Camps on Lobster Lake and shortly after that established an additional garage in Millinocket to better serve crews working off the Golden Road. The company had by then become a major piece of the forest economy in the region, establishing a very close working relationship with the Haynes family (H.C. Haynes Inc.) that has lasted 40 years and working for other major landowners including Wagner Forest Management, Great North Woods, and Prentiss and Carlisle.

The company has always been a family business, and as it grew, so did Robin worked alongside him from the beginning to make the business a success, and spent many years working in the office in Grindstone and then later in Medway. His son, Robin, “Grog” Crawford Jr. helped him build the business and took over running it a while ago. Grog Crawford III has his own truck, which his Pappy was proud that he took that step out on his own a year ago, and his son Kenneth is currently a supervisor for the company. Dan Larlee, his son in law, has been running the Crawford garage since 1998.

When Maine’s logging industry contracted several years ago as many mill shutdowns reduced markets for

wood, Robin A Crawford & Son Woods Co. also downsized and sold its garage in Millinocket as the work along the Golden Road decreased.

Today, Robin A. Crawford & Son Woods Co. continues to operate out of Chester over a large area of Maine with six harvester crews and one processor crew. There are an average of 15 Crawford trucks on the road these days and there would be more but - like every logging and trucking company in Maine - the business’s demand for drivers is greater than the supply.

The company logs a mix of commercial timberland and private lots. Company trucks have also hauled potatoes for many years during mud season. There are about 70 employees on the payroll and the company is always looking for more. Some of those employees started back on the hand crews in 1987 the year the company was founded, a testament to the loyalty Robin inspired in his workforce and in others. He was a very generous man, he helped a lot of people in a lot of different ways, from getting them started in their own business or getting them through until Tammy said, recalling times when workers who had just started with the company would ask if they could borrow money no problem pay me

re not a bank, but he was just so generous that way, always looking to help other people. He

anything, he was always willing to lend an ear, he was just

organizations and causes, to which he donated regularly.

s Log A Load For Kids annual s Research

One measure of the influence Robin and the

Some of Robin A. Crawford & Son’s equipment, ready to roll

business have had on the community and the logging and trucking industry was demonstrated when his grandson, Kenneth, posted on Facebook asking anyone who had ever driven a Crawford truck for his grandfather or father to post a picture of the truck. The pictures started coming immediately, and they now go on for pages, with hundreds of comments and good memories from people who worked for the company or still do, and they show just how big and far reaching the impact of that company - and the man who founded ithave been.

Family mattered more than anything else to Robin, and he took great pride in providing for his family. PLC Members who knew him well recall him talking at length about his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

“He loved spending time with his family, he always believed in his family, that they could do anythingthat was probably one of the greatest gifts that he could Tammy said.

especially those that run in the Maine woods - face daily. There was not a lot of time for hobbies in the years he spent building up the business, but Robin had always wanted to own a 1958 Chevy Impala convertible, and finally in August of 2012 his grandson, Robin III, convinced him to buy one he found on Facebook, sight unseen. He soon vowed never to buy a car sight unseen again after getting it home and finding out how much work it needed, but with typical persistence and attention to detail he began to restore it. By the time he was done, the car was immaculate, and when he and Lois began attending car shows with it they won many trophies, and the shows and the car became a source of great enjoyment to both.

In recent years, it was hard to miss a close friendship that developed between Robin and Grog’s dog, Brutus, who became the company mascot and whose picture even appears on many of the company chip boxes. Any day Brutus came to the office he would run straight to Robin, and if he wasn’t there yet he would sit in the window and watch for him for hours.

“That dog just loved Bob, as soon as that pickup pulled in the driveway he knew who it was, he’d go running out to him and they had such a bond,” Tammy said. “He’s only been to the office once since Bob has passed, but even now he will sit in the window and just wait for him to show up, because that’s what he’d do anytime Bob wasn’t here, he’d just sit and look out the window and wait for him.”

Robin A. Crawford Sr. will be missed.

Robin also took great pride in the trucks that he loved. He insisted that Crawford trucks be kept in top condition, looking like they just came off the showroom floor in spite of the rough conditions any truck in Maine -

The PLC is dedicating this issue of The Logger’s Voice to his memory. Our condolences go out to his family, and we thank them for letting us share a bit of his story.

PLC Members remember Robin A. Crawford Sr. Page 14

Three generations of Crawfords in the business. From left, Robin III, Robin Sr., Grog, and Kenneth.

Robin’s 1958 Chevy Impala convertible. In recent years, he and Lois attended many car shows and won many trophies with it.

Brutus, waiting in the window at the office for Robin Sr.

Maine’s Forest Products Industry loses a “Pioneer Logging Contractor”

I knew of Robin Crawford a year or two before I met him. It was the 80’s. A time of disruption in the Maine Woods as logging was mechanizing and big companies like GNP and Georgia Pacific were shutting down their mechanical operations due to high costs in favor of relying on hard working, risk taking, innovative men like Robin Crawford to harvest the millions of tons of fiber needed to run their mills.

When I finally met Robin, I liked him right away. I respect all of my competitors, but there was something about Robin that caused me, and many others, to just plain like the man. Robin had a way to make a point and make you laugh at the same time.

I need to set the stage in order to share one of the first memories I have of Robin. As Maine logging contractors mechanized, the entire industry experienced a significant learning curve. This was a new way to harvest wood. It was a totally new economic model. Feller-bunchers could mechanically cut smaller trees than traditional hand crews. However, that did not mean that they could economically cut smaller trees. The first conversation I remember having with Robin was him saying “Brian, I’m tellin’ ya, we’ve gotta get these Foresters to understand that these $300,000 fellah-bunchers are not weed-wackers!” And he said it as only Robin could say it, loud, red faced, so you knew he was serious, but with a grin and a laugh to go with it. That was 30 some-odd years ago, so however he said it, it was memorable.

I have always had a lot of respect for Robin. I grew up in the woods business in Robin’s shadow. Robin was established. He was miles ahead of me in knowing what he was doing. However, in any dealings I ever had with Robin, he always treated me

with respect, like an equal. I always appreciated that. Robin was not much for meetings and committees. Nor was he much interested to be in the limelight. However, when needed, Robin was not afraid to step up to the plate. When Cheryl Russell asked Robin to participate in the PLC selection committee to recruit the second Executive Director in PLC’s history, Robin was quick to accept the challenge. I was lucky enough to be on that committee with Robin. I found Robin to be engaged and extremely thoughtful regarding his participation. Robin supplied a level of leadership to the process that was calm and confident. That effort started the PLC on an upward trajectory that continues to this day.

Over the years, I have enjoyed a few precious personal moments with Robin, and his extraordinary wife, Lois. From these moments I can attest to the fact that Robin and Lois are driven by a fierce love for their family. Personal conversations that I have enjoyed with Robin and Lois have been dominated by talk of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They clearly have had big hopes and dreams for the next several generations!

To Lois and the Crawford Family, thank you for sharing Robin so selflessly with our Forest Products Industry. Robin is one of those unsung heroes who most people have no idea what a huge contribution he made.

Rest in Peace Robin Crawford.

Brian Souers President Treeline, Inc.

PLC Members remember RobinA. Crawford Sr.

“One of my earliest memories of being in the woods, with my dad, was the first time I met Bob. Back then Bob hauled for Dad with his own truck. I was probably 10 or 11 years old and we went over to the woods to load Bob with 4 foot.

I remember the piles because they were neatly stacked and my Dad wasn't that good with the crane. I was brought along to straighten the wood that he spilled on the ground while Bob straightened the wood on the body of the truck.

When we finally got the truck loaded I remember Bob telling Dad that I did alright for a young fella. Everyone else would tell Dad that all I did was get in the way. Bob was a great motivator. I'm going to miss his stories.”

Steve Hanington, Hanington Bros. Inc.

“As close as I can remember Bob Crawford started hauling wood for our family business in the late 1970's. For over 40 years he and his family have harvested and trucked huge volumes of timber to mills all over Maine, New

Hampshire, Quebec & New Brunswick as a subcontractor for our company.

Bob was very witty and quick to the draw. I remember around the year 2000 asking him to move his crews onto the Public Lands in Township 4 to harvest wood. His reply was, " I lost my ass in there in the 1990's why the hell would I want to go back lookin' for it?" He certainly could make us all smile.

Contracts were not necessary with Bob, his word was gold. He was 100% old school and will be sadly missed by myself and the forest industry.”

Jay Haynes, H.C. Haynes Inc.

“

You could always tell if Bob was in a room just hearing his contagious laugh! In the logging industry, contractors feel downhearted at times and Bob had that unique way of making you feel better. He will be sadly missed.”

Thanks for the memories

George and Mary Keegan, Thompson Forest and Trucking

power lines, property damage and bone chilling cold weather, the world feels like it has come to a standstill. What we had heard about on TV and read about in the newspapers, primarily in China, was now on our doorstep.

First, schools closed and may not reopen this year. Then, guidelines were sent out from the Centers for Disease Control which provided limitations on human contact. First, the groups could not be any bigger than 50, then that was reduced to 10. From there, certain businesses in Maine were closed (bars and restaurants) and that has now morphed into any public facing establishment except for those on the “essential” list.

As a result of the drastic orders from both the federal and state governments, the dominos started to fall.

The Legislature announced that they would adjourn their annual session after one last ditch effort on Tuesday, March 17th. When it was announced that the final day of the session would only be devoted to the Supplemental Budget and the Coronavirus impacts, I felt that this was only appropriate, especially if the public couldn’t be in attendance. However, if you have read my legislative updates and the recent Op Ed. in the Central Maine Newspapers, you know that what was publicly announced in advance is not exactly what happened. Unfortunately, in what has become typical of legislative proceedings, what’s in front of you isn’t always representative of what’s behind the curtain. The Legislature moved a bill (LD 1698) that will undoubtedly add cost and burden to contractors with no financial benefit. We will need to work with the Governor to get this changed or overturned in the future. It was an unfortunate turn of events that just leads to continued distrust of many of our elected leaders.

Then, the PLC was forced to postpone its spring safety trainings to either dates later in the fall or perhaps altogether pending the outcome of the pandemic. In an example of how moments like this bring out the best in people, we sought the advice of the major workers’ comp. carriers and all are willing to work with the membership and the insurance agents to be flexible with respect to workers’ comp. training requirements if need be.

From there, we postponed our annual meeting to a

date later this year that might work for everyone to come and celebrate. It would really be drastic if we couldn’t host this celebration of the last 25 years and continue our amazing philanthropic work on behalf of the Log A Load for Kids program. That said, we will hope for the best and perhaps this fall we can have one great day of celebration and reflection that will put a period at the end of this sentence.

On Tuesday, March 24th, Governor Mills proclaimed in an Executive Order that all forestry related businesses (manufacturing, services, logging and trucking) were essential to the continuation of human existence. And most recently, on April 2nd, the Governor put in place a stay at home order for non-essential businesses and employees, which further restricts the movement of commerce and people.

While this was a very important proclamation and gave a pathway forward for the supply chain, I also know it came with great angst and reservation, and more questions that answers. From our membership, I’ve been asked, what happens if a mill shuts down because of the virus? What will happen to markets now and in the future the longer that this pandemic forges on? Because we are essential, does that mean that we can’t lay our employees off and if we are forced to, are they not eligible for unemployment or other business salvage options? It is really important to be considered essential to give yourself a fighting chance, but if you have nowhere to sell your product, what are you supposed to do?

As the world shutters around us and thousands are put out of work, I had one member call me and say, “Well, I really feel bad for those are who are being impacted by this entire situation. It can’t be easy on their families and this is not good for our state or our country right now. However, this will also give folks a feel for how loggers feel every year when they get laid off during mud season.” And while this wasn’t intended to be spiteful in any way, it certainly did put things in perspective very quickly. With the shortage of paper products, and the mass layoffs, I believe it has changed the public’s perspective on how important loggers really are to our daily existence.

As the carnage has continued to pile up in such a

Doran Continued Page 18

Doran Continued from Page 9

short period of time, much to our chagrin, the role of government has also increased significantly. And while many of us disagree on the approach, it appears that fiscal policy (governmental spending) appears to be one of the only ways to shock the economy and slow the damage.

On March 27th, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), which attempts to infuse $2 trillion back into the economy to keep people working, bills paid and food on the table. It includes many provisions, including Payroll Protection loans and additional unemployment stipends which might help, but they also might hurt in the long run. Members are calling on a daily basis looking for guidance on what they should do with these programs and what might be the correct call for their business and their employees. Desperate times call for desperate measures I guess, and it makes me proud to work for this organization and provide value and help to our members wherever we can, even if the answers are not easy to come by.

When will this ice storm end; I’m not really sure at this point? For anyone in Maine or around the world impacted by this ice storm, it will forever be known as the year with an asterisk. The year that the world came to a shuddering halt, all because of something that we cannot see, and it certainly will leave a void and a mark in many different ways.

I think the debate is still out on that but hopefully our social distancing and extreme measures to limit the spread of the virus will really take hold through the month of April. In the meantime, the logging community will do what it does best and look after their families, their neighbors and their communities, doing whatever they can do to make the best of a challenging situation. If called upon (and we have offered the help of the logging community to the Governor’s Office), we will do whatever we can do to help as well.

Rest assured that the PLC will be here for you to try to provide a navigational map for these uncharted waters. Loggers are resilient, they are resourceful, and this too shall pass and I’m sure that we can get through this because that’s what loggers do. Know that the PLC as an organization will do the same because we don’t have any other choice. If you are on the front line fighting for your businesses, fighting for your employees, and fighting for your communities, we will do the same. We are all in this together and for me, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Before you know it, this too shall pass and it will make the new beginnings, the trainings and all of the delayed celebrations, that much more special. For all of our members, I hope that you stay healthy, safe and sane during this unprecedented time. Love your family, your employees, your neighbors and yourselves and if there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to ask as we are only a phone call, a text or an email away at any time.

Dana.

Doran Continued from Page 16

Economic impact study reveals Maine loggers and truckers contributed $619 million to state economy in 2017

Study shows logging and woods trucking supports more than 9,000 jobs and a range of industries and communities across Maine

AUGUSTA – The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine released results of a comprehensive study of the economic impact of Maine logging on March 5, showing the industry contributed an estimated $619 million to the state economy

in 2017.

The study, “The Economic Contribution of Logging and Trucking in Maine,” conducted by the University of Maine and the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, revealed that in 2017 logging supported approximately 9,366 Maine jobs either directly or indirectly, generated $342 million in labor income, pumped an estimated $25 million into state and local tax coffers, and remains critical to a range of industries and communities across Maine.

“This study demonstrates the vast impact logging

Study Continued Page 20

Study Continued from Page 19

has on the Maine economy and highlights its role as the foundation of the state’s entire $7.7 billion forest products industry,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, said. shows what Maine stands to lose if the mounting challenges to the logging industry are not overcome.

To better understand the nature of the harvesting industry in Maine, analysts combined a traditional input output (IMPLAN) analysis with primary data gathered from member companies of the PLC, the logging trade association representing companies that together harvest more than 75 percent of all timber harvested in Maine. The study calculates the economic impact of logging in the state of Maine for 2017 through both the IMPLAN analysis as well as a survey delivered to members of the PLC in 2018. Where appropriate, results were also compared with findings of a previous, similar study on the 2014 impact of Maine logging to identify industry trends. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, and other appropriate sources was incorporated in the analysis to present a complete picture of the industry status.

In addition to overall economic impact and jobs, findings of the study and associated research included:

• According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the real average wage for workers in the logging industry in 2017 was $47,289 (in 2018 dollars). This represents a 3.2 percent increase in wages since 2014.

• The survey sent to PLC contractors showed mechanization remains dominant in the industry: Fully 56 percent of surveyed firms were identified as whole tree harvesting operations, and another 35 percent as cut length harvesting operations – both of which use combinations of mechanized logging equipment such as feller bunchers, delimbers, grapple skidders, forwarders, and harvesters to cut, yard, and process wood. Only 8 percent were identified as conventional hand crews using chain saws. Respondent companies employed slightly fewer crews on average in 2018 than in 2014. Interestingly, the proportion of cut-to-length crews in mechanized logging (while still a minority) increased in 2018.

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Maine logging sector is heavily dominated by small businesses, with an average (between 2006 and 2016) of 67% of employing establishments in the industry employing fewer than 5 people. Additionally, 1,719 non the logging and harvest sector were reported in Maine during 2017. These entities are overwhelmingly (94%) sole proprietorships.

• Survey respondents reported an average of 13 full time equivalent employees per firm. As in 2014, the majority of respondent employees work in the woods, on average 7 per firm; an additional average of 2 per firm

provide office support, 3 trucking and 1 mechanical support. It is notable that the average number of wood-based employees per firm, as calculated from survey responses, is a little more than half of what it was in 2014.

• On average, survey respondents had 42 operational weeks in 2018 and harvested 1,621 acres per firm.

• Trucking remains critical to the logging industry. Most survey respondents (26%) trucked either all or the majority (37%) of the material harvested by their firm. Thirteen percent rarely (less than 50% of the time) trucked their own material and 24% contracted with an outside source for all their trucking needs.

• Logging is a capital-intensive industry. Survey respondents reported $21.1 million in new capital investment – 76% of which was spent on new equipment.

• For 2018, Maine Forest Service data showed 11,817,367 tons of timber were harvested in Maine including 4,222,170 tons of saw timber, 5,391,052 tons of pulp wood, and 2,204,145 tons of biomass. That was an overall decrease of from 2014, when data showed 14,188,085 tons of timber were harvested in Maine, including 4,004,051 tons of saw timber, 7,289,270 tons of pulp wood, and 2,894,764 tons of biomass.

The economic study released today comes in the wake of a 2019 “Maine Logger and Log Trucker Employment Availability and Wage Analysis Report” prepared by the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Southern Maine that found Maine is facing a shortage of loggers and log truckers that will grow and which could hinder the growth of the forest products industry in the state if wage growth does not occur. That study revealed wages for logging equipment operators and log truckers in Maine are lower than those for comparable jobs in competing industries in the state, and this combined with a tight labor market and looming retirement for large numbers of loggers is concerning for Maine’s forest economy.

The heart of the issue identified by the 2019 study is profit margins for logging contractors have dwindled as costs of doing business have risen, limiting the ability of contractors to raise pay for workers. With low unemployment and strong competition for skilled operators of heavy machinery and trucks, logging contractors are struggling simply to keep the workers they have, let alone attract new ones.

Study Continued from Page 21

“The inevitable conclusion based on a review of the new study and of the wage and employment study released last year is that logging is a critical Maine industry under threat that must be preserved if the state is to avoid a collapse of its forest products industry and the deep and irreversible impacts that would have on Maine’s economy, rural communities, and character,” Doran said. “The challenges facing loggers are not insurmountable, but failure to overcome them would be disastrous for Maine.”

Harvesting is an integral part of Maine’s forest products industry. Wood pulp, wood, and paper and paperboard are Maine's 5th, 6th and 7th most valuable exports, respectively, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In an increasingly global world, the competitiveness of these exports relies on the economic feasibility and health of the harvesting industry that makes it all possible. The industry today faces many challenges but is meeting them by seeking new and nontraditional markets, increasing the

focus on professionalism and safety, utilizing the latest technology, and working to educate a new and highly skilled generation of loggers for the future.

One key to the future of the increasingly complex logging industry is education, and this means the Mechanized Logging Operations Programs (MLOP) created by the PLC in partnership with the Maine Community College System, and with support from the state and industry partners, is critical to training a new generation of loggers ready to enter to the industry as older workers reach retirement age. The program is currently recruiting students for its fourth 12-week class, scheduled to begin June 22 in the Old Town area.

To see the full study, go to: http://maineloggers.com/new/ wp-content/uploads/2020/03/3.4.2020-LoggingReport_Final-Review_Color-FINAL.pdf

Mechanized Logging Operations Program Recruiting Students for Summer 2020

12-week certificate program to be offered beginning in June

OLD TOWN - Recruiting is now underway for students in the Mechanized Logging Operations Program (MLOP), which is beginning its next class June 22 in the woods northeast of Old Town.

Students enrolled in the post-secondary training program will spend weeks harvesting timber using sophisticated state-of-the-art machines like those they will encounter in the logging industry. The hands-on experience students gain operating equipment is something unavailable anywhere else in Maine and neighboring states.

This summer’s class will be the fourth since the program launched in 2017. Graduation for the class will be held in September.

“I would encourage any individual with an interest in a good-paying, exciting career in the Maine woods to consider the MLOP program,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC), said. “There is no better, more efficient way to gain the experience and knowledge you need to become an equipment operator in the logging industry.”

The latest class to complete the program graduated in Sept. 2019. All 15 students enrolled in the program completed it successfully and all received job offers in the logging industry. Coordinators of the program plan to accept 15 students into this summer’s program as well. A specific harvest site for the program is now being chosen but the regional location has been chosen.

The Mechanized Logging Operations Program was created thanks to a partnership between three Maine community colleges, the PLC, and industry partners including Milton CAT and Nortrax.

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.

Mechanized logging operators are among the highest paid members of the logging workforce.

Anyone with an interest in the program should contact Leah Buck at Northern Maine Community College at 207-768-2768. Information and application instructions may be found online at https://www.nmcc.edu/industrycustomized-training/mechanized-forest-operations/

While the logging industry has seen some contraction in recent years, the demand for skilled operators of the feller bunchers, harvesters, grapple skidders, forwarders, delimbers, and other mechanized

logging equipment that now harvests more than 95 percent of all timber in Maine is strong and getting stronger. Many current operators are reaching retirement age and the steep costs of training new operators is driving up demand and wages.

The program is working in tandem with the state’s current vocational training system and so far has drawn

many of its students from within the logging industry itself as well as from Maine’s four Career and Technical High School logging programs in Dyer Brook, Farmington, Norway/South Paris and Rumford/Mexico. For the first time, logging operators are being trained similarly to other advanced trade occupations with a high school and postsecondary pathway approach.

A promotional video for MLOP developed by the PLC gives potential students a good look at the opportunities afforded by the program and the logging industry.

The video was developed thanks to support from Farm Credit East. It is available on YouTube at https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI5YwXiM6Gg

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.

Anyone interested in becoming an instructor for the program should contact Donald Burr at (207) 356-1541.

Graduates and instructors of the 2019 program. The 2020 program will begin in June.

Trucking

Trucking Industry News...

Ohio Street Bridge Project…

The Maine Department of Transportation is replacing the Ohio Street Bridge, which carries Ohio Street over I-95 in Bangor. Demolition began in February and will continue through April. The new bridge will be open by September 2020. During demolition and construction, local traffic, including pedestrians, will be detoured. After the new bridge opens, there will be alternating one-way traffic with flaggers until the project is completed in November 2020.

There will also be complete interstate closures, either northbound or southbound, during overnight hoursbetween 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. These closures are allowed Monday through Thursday, and detours will be clearly marked. There will be no interstate closures during July and August. Regular updates on this project are posted at https://www.maine.gov/mdot/projects/bangor/ ohiost/

DOT Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance Notice

…

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, Pub. L. 115-334, (Farm Bill) removed hemp from the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. Under the Farm Bill, hemp-derived products containing a concentration of up to 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are not controlled substances. THC is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana. Any product, including “Cannabidiol” (CBD) products, with a concentration of more than 0.3% THC remains classified as marijuana, a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Learn more at https:// content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOT/ bulletins/27bd19f

Extension of Compliance Date for Entry-Level Driver Training…

ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comment.

SUMMARY: FMCSA is amending its December 8, 2016, final rule, "Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators" (ELDT final rule), by extending the compliance date for the rule from February 7, 2020, to February 7, 2022. This action will provide FMCSA additional time to complete development of the Training Provider Registry (TPR). The TPR will allow training providers to selfcertify that they meet the training requirements and will provide the electronic interface that will receive and store entry-level driver training (ELDT) certification information from training providers and transmit that information to the State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs). The extension also provides SDLAs with time to modify their information technology (IT) systems and procedures, as necessary, to accommodate their receipt of driver-specific ELDT data from the TPR. FMCSA is delaying the entire ELDT final rule, as opposed to a partial delay as proposed, due to delays in implementation of the TPR that were not foreseen when the proposed rule was published.

Click to read or download more at https:// www.fmcsa.dot.gov/newsroom/extension-compliance-date -entry-level-driver-training-1

Trucking

Cross-border Prohibition for CMV drivers with Insulin Treated Diabetes Mellitus (ITDM) Removed...

FMCSA Colleagues,

In our continuing effort to provide awareness of resources available for motor carriers and CMV drivers that cross the U.S.-Canada border, we wanted to ensure you were aware that on Sept. 24, 2019, FMCSA and Canada formally updated our medical reciprocity agreement with Canada and removed the cross-border prohibition for CMV drivers with Insulin Treated Diabetes Mellitus (ITDM). We have posted the letters exchanged by FMCSA and Transport Canada on the International Safety Programs webpage https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ international-programs. You can find links to both the FMCSA and Canadian letters reflecting the removal of the cross-border prohibition for CMV drivers with ITDM, under both headings Entering Canada and Entering the United States.

Additionally, we have posted an updated FAQ on the International Safety Programs related to this change, under the Frequently Asked Questions-Medical Qualifications heading, at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/internationalprograms/medical-qualification-requirements. Since Canada is beginning to conduct outreach with its industry partners, we are expecting FMCSA Division Offices (in particular, northern border Divisions) to begin receiving questions of this nature. As such, please refer to the enclosed link, and should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Carla Vagnini of the FMCSA North American Borders Division, via email at Carla.vagnini@dot.gov, or by phone at (202) 366-3771.

Trucking section

Continued Page 26

Trucking Industry News... Trucking

Madawaska/Edmundston International Bridge Replacement Project…

After nearly 100 years of service, the Madawaska/ Edmundston International Bridge is in poor condition.

Despite efforts to maintain the bridge, the rate of deterioration has accelerated to the point that the end of the useful service life is fast approaching. In October 2017, the bridge was posted at five tons (the equivalent of a passenger vehicle). Therefore, any substantial investments

Trucking

would be impractical. Since this bridge is nearly 100 years old, it no longer meets the needs of the communities and local businesses because of it's width and load capacity. It would cost more to upgrade the current bridge than to build a new one.

In May of 2018, the Madawaska/Edmundston International Bridge and Border Crossing Feasibility Study was finalized by MaineDOT, the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (NBDTI), and the US General Services Administration (GSA). The study recommended that a new bridge connect the existing border station in Edmundston, NB to a fully-modernized station in Madawaska. This bridge will be built approximately 1,300 feet upriver on the St. John. The purpose of the proposed project is to provide for the long-term, safe and efficient flow of current and projected traffic volumes, including the movement of goods and people, between Madawaska and Edmundston. The project is necessary because:

▪ The existing International Bridge is nearing the end of its useful life and is posted at a 5-ton weight limit.

▪ The size and conditions of the existing building and overall site of the Madawaska border station are substandard, preventing customs and inspection agencies from adequately fulfilling their respective missions.

The project is set to advertise in Q4 of 2020, but physical construction may not begin until 2021, depending on contract, award, and mobilization timing.

OAKLAND - Fabian Oil Inc. has a lot in common with Maine loggers. A family owned and operated business like most of the state’s logging contractors, Fabian is always busy, but its operations reach a peak in the winter months during heating season.

And for Fabian Oil, just as it is for loggers, a long cold winter is good for business.

This winter was not a long or a cold one, but as in all recent winters, red and white Fabian Oil delivery trucks have been a familiar sight on the roads of Maine and - increasinglythroughout the New England. It wasn’t always like this. Fabian Oil Inc., founded in 1988 by Edward J. “EJ” Fabian in Oakland, Maine, started out small.

and began retailing home heating fuel there. As time went on the company grew slowly. More gas stations and home heating branches followed as Fabian began investing in other product lines. The company built some of these new locations from the ground up, in other cases Fabian acquired existing businesses, and the growth continued.

In 2012 Fabian Oil built a fabrication shop behind the original Fabian gas station in Oakland - now a full-service fuel station with a convenience storeand began building oil and propane delivery trucks for its own fleet as well as other businesses and even competitors. This was a great move for the company, Ted said.

“Today we have nearly 200 employees, 10 home heating branches throughout Maine, and a large network of Fabian branded and unbranded gas stations throughout New England. The Fabian brand is in five states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.”

“It started as a full-service gas station right across the street and soon after began retailing home heating products,” Ted Fabian, EJ’s son, and vice president of the company, said recently at Fabian’s main office on Oak Street in Oakland. “He was basically right out of college.”

Not long after that modest beginning Fabian Oil jumped into the Jay area market with one delivery truck

“That’s how we keep our fleet in mint condition and minimize a lot of the maintenance issues,” Ted said.

In 2015, another game changing move occurred when Fabian acquired the Kenoco gasoline brand and dealer network, launching the company on a path to rapid expansion.

“That was a large acquisition. They had some customers out of state, in New Hampshire, and that’s really what made us decide that we needed to branch out on the wholesale distribution side. We started in New

Fabian Oil began in 1988 at this gas station on Oak Street in Oakland Maine, now greatly expanded and with a convenience store. Today, the company’s headquarters is located directly across the street and its fabrication shop (opposite photo) behind the original fuel station builds and services both its own fleet of delivery trucks as well as those of other businesses.

Hampshire and then soon after Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont,” Ted said.

After revitalizing the Kenoco network Fabian decided to phase out the Kenoco brand and rebrand most locations as Fabian Oil. That process is still underway but nearing completion and with it and many new acquisitions in the last few years, Fabian has emerged as a major marketer of petroleum products and a full company offering all types of heating and motor fuels as well as a full department for oil, propane and natural gas.

“

So today we have nearly 200 employees, 10 home heating branches throughout Maine, and a large network of Fabian branded and unbranded gas stations throughout New England. The Fabian brand is in five states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island,” Ted said.

While growth for Fabian geographically across states has been dramatic, the growth in services and locations in Maine itself has been equally impressive.

Fabian’s growth is continuing in 2020, with the latest acquisition being the former TD Bank branch in Oakland where the company plans to open a new office

with drive through service as an added bonus for customers who want to make payments or perform other tasks without getting out of their cars. This move comes as the company’s headquarters building on Oak Street has become a humming command center filled with employees manning computers and phones and handling operations, sales and service across its entire distribution area.

Fabian Oil remains very much a family business. EJ continues to run the company; Ted is Vice President; Ted’s uncle, Mike, runs the fabrication shop and dispatches wholesale deliveries at night; and his cousin, Max, is operations manager. The Fabians believe what sets the company apart is the quality of service the company offers and its ability to react quickly, as well as constant efforts wide to improve.

re constantly challenging ourselves to stay ahead of the game, there are lot of very capable people in different departments here to keep us sharp and moving forward within the industry,” Ted said.

His father agreed, and said he never expected the company he founded way back in 1988 to turn into the major company it is today.

Fabian Continued Page 30

Fabian Continued from Page 29

“

We’ve got a lot of great people that work for us, and that certainly helps,” EJ said.

From the very beginning, Fabian Oil has served Maine’s logging industry and continues to do so today. The company joined the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine as a Preferred Supporting Member in January 2019 and is proud to support the logging industry.

“It’s a great industry,” Ted said. “It’s a pleasure for us to work with Maine family owned and operated businesses, we’ve formed long lasting relationships and hopefully we’re providing them with a service that helps them continue to move forward and prosper.”

There are certainly challenges every day in the business. Mild winters like the most recent one are not as profitable for the company as cold ones, and the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis is creating hurdles for the company just as it is for every other business.

Yet with a quality workforce and reputation, and a forward-looking leadership team, more growth appears likely and the future for Fabian looks bright.

“We have a really strong operations team and they’re constantly pushing the envelope to bring new ideas to the table and put us in a good spot,” Ted said. “As the industry changes and evolves there are opportunities that arise and if it makes sense for us we’ll definitely take a look at those, and also focus on current operations and organic growth as well.”

Legislative Breakfast 2020!

Thank you to all who attended the PLC's 2020 Legislative Breakfast Thursday March 5 at The Governor Hill Mansion in Augusta! We had tremendous attendance from legislators, PLC Members, PLC Supporting Members, and other supporters of Maine's logging industry who took time out of their busy schedules to make the event a great success!

The PLC released results of a new economic impact study at the event that showed logging contributed $619 million to Maine's economy in 2017. The study, The Economic Contribution of Logging and Trucking in Maine, conducted by the University of Maine and the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, also revealed that in 2017 logging supported approximately 9,366 Maine jobs either directly or indirectly, generated $342 million in labor income, and pumped an estimated $25 million into state and local tax coffers. You may read the full announcement on the study on page 33.

PLC Members sincerely appreciated the opportunity to meet and talk with their legislators and remind lawmakers why the logging industry is critical to Maine's future and deserves their support.

Thank you to our speakers at the event including Sherbey Morris of Morris Logging Inc. and Maine Speaker of the House Sara Gideon.

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating many challenges for Maine's loggers and truckers. Information on this crisis is changing quickly, therefore the PLC is attempting to regularly inform the membership of the latest developments (see those at the time of this printing below) through a COVID19 Resource Page available online here:

https://mailchi.mp/2ef471ed5b80/q3pacbw7i2

❖ On April 3 the Small Business Administration (SBA) began accepting applications from small businesses for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). After a shaky rollout the program’s funding was quickly exhausted. At the time of this printing negotiations to appropriate additional funds for the program were underway. This program is part of the COVID -19 Stimulus Package or CARES Act. Businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with less than 500 employees qualify for the PPP. (If you maintain your workforce, SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first 8 weeks of payroll and certain other expenses following loan origination). If you plan to apply for a loan, PLC encourages you to contact your lender to discuss the process immediately as interest in this option is high and funding could dry up quickly if more is appropriated.

❖ SBA Bridge Loans may be appropriate for some businesses to bridge the gap while they wait for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program. SBA Express Bridge Loans enable small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue

they are experiencing and can be a term loan or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan. Talk to your lender if interested in this option.

❖ On April 1, the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act went into effect. This federal Act requires some employers in Maine to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded medical leave for reasons related to COVID-19.

❖ Maine's Department of Labor has recommended that people file unemployment claims online with a computer as opposed to a smartphone and do so in the evening when internet traffic is less. To address high claims volume, those seeking to file for unemployment by calling the 800 number should use the following schedule: Last names beginning with A-H should call on Monday, with names beginning with I-Q on Tuesday; and those beginning with R-Z on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are left unassigned for those who miss their alphabetical day or need to call at that time. Those who are unable to connect with a claims representative at the times above by calling 1-800-593-7660 before 3 p.m. Monday through Friday should submit a message at www.maine.gov/labor/contact

Tailgate Meetings

ByDonaldBurr

PLCSafety&TrainingCoordinator safety@maineloggers.com

OSHA 1910.266(i)(11) says that the “Employer shall hold safety and health meetings as necessary and at least each month for each employee.” These are commonly known as tailgate meetings. In this article I will discuss some guidelines for conducting these types of meetings.

Identify your topic. Pick a topic that can be handled in the time that you have, most tailgate type trainings typically should not last more than 15 minutes. Pick a location that is conformable for the employee (on their turf).

When presenting make eye contact, be clear, have examples, ask for the employees input and be succinct.

Make sure the topic is relevant to your company today. Stay away from “sometime in future we will do,” types of statements in safety meetings.

Keep a record of what you do for topics so you can stay away from being redundant. OSHA has a list of topics that loggers need to train on, use this list to work

DO

▪ Limit sessions to no more than 15 minutes.

▪ Choose topics that relate to your operation.

▪ Use real life experience, draw from your employees for examples.

▪ Document (If you don’t document the training it did not happen in OSHA’s eyes).

from but look for other ways to meet your company’s needs.

A written training certification record must be maintained by the employer and contain at least: The name or other identity of the employees trained, the date(s) of the training, the signature of the employer or the person(s) who conducted the training or the employer, and the date the employer determined that the training given prior to hiring the employee was adequate. [29 CFR 1910.266(i) (10)]

If you are seeking a change in the way your company is handling safety be clear on what the expectations are going forward.

a. If you get caught not following the new expectation, own it, don’t make excuses, don’t make light of it, just own it. Safety is process and we all fail, employees understand failing, what they don’t understand or respect is hypocrisy.

b. Look for ways after to praise employees when the new expectations are being met or even exceeded.

DON’T

▪ Conduct training sessions on Monday mornings.

▪ Speak in a manner workerswon’t understand.

▪ Discourage employees from asking questions.

▪ Have a meeting in a noisy or distracting environment

▪ Make fun of your workers.

Safety

Ted Clark, CLCS, Loss

Control

Consultant, Acadia Insurance

Quarterly Safety Meeting: Fire on Logging Machinery

Fire on logging machinery is a detrimental loss that has occurred since heavy machines first arrived in the woods. While manufacturers of equipment continue to make strides in fire suppression systems, one thing that remains true is that, when a fire occurs, the operator taking immediate and effective action can make the difference between a machine that suffers zero to minor damage and a machine that suffers a significant fire loss. Because of this fact, an occasional reminder to operators about how to fight an equipment fire can be extremely helpful if a fire occurs. While every situation is different, the following steps can be taken to help reduce the damage caused by a fire:

1. Don’t get hurt. At the end of the day a machine is replaceable but the operator is not. If the fire is too big or you are not comfortable that you can extinguish the fire safely, you should stand back and take precautions to prevent the fire from spreading onto the ground or other equipment in the area. It is not worth risking your safety to extinguish a machine fire.

2. Call for help immediately. Tell other operators in the area what is going on and ask them to come help you. Often times the other machines can carry water or additional handheld fire extinguishers to assist in extinguishing a fire.

3. Shut machine down by turning off the key, grounding out hydraulics and, if possible, shut off the master switch. Shutting the machine down completely and grounding out the hydraulics will help you reduce the amount of additional fuel, such as oils, being introduced to the fire. Shutting the master switch off will help to remove a potential source of re-ignition.

4. Activate your fire suppression system. If the system has not yet activated, you should immediately activate it manually. Activating it manually can prevent the fire from growing by suppressing it enough to allow you to utilize a handheld extinguisher on remaining flames. It should be noted here that fire suppression systems may differ in how they are activated and you should familiarize yourself with your own system before a fire occurs.

5. Get ready with your portable extinguishers. A portable extinguisher, such as a loaded stream, can be helpful in extinguishing a fire once it has been suppressed. Most manufacturers recommend leaving the engine compartment closed to prevent the fire from getting more oxygen while also allowing the suppression agent to do its job. Because of this, most equipment manufacturers have designated locations around the machine where you can insert a fire extinguisher hose and discharge it.

6. Standby at the machine. Fires have been known to rekindle on machinery up to several hours after the initial fire was presumed to be extinguished. After the fire appears to have been extinguished, you should wait at your machine with additional hand held fire extinguishers until you are comfortable that it has been completely extinguished. While the fire is taking place, there is a lot of information that can be helpful in figuring out what caused the fire to ignite. Below are some observations you can make to help investigators figure out the cause of the fire:

1. What color was the smoke? A surprising amount of information can be gathered by the color of smoke. The color of the smoke can help point towards where the fire ignited as well as what was fueling the fire.

2. What did you hear? You may hear an alarm indicating the fire suppression system discharged. You may hear crackling, potentially pointing to an electrical problem. Simple observations like these can help investigators find the cause of the fire.

3. What did you see? Note areas on the machine where you first see flames. Where was the fire most intense? What happened when the suppression system went off?

4. Take a video or pictures. If you are no longer able to fight the fire, and as long as it is safe to do so, standing back and taking a video and/or photos can be helpful to investigators.

Fires on machinery are hazardous and can cause significant downtime for a logging contractor. While manufacturers of equipment and fire suppression systems continue to work diligently to prevent fires from ever occurring, it remains true that as long as you are cutting wood with machinery, fire is always going to be a possibility. Simple steps like those listed above can go a long way in preventing the severity of a fire and getting your machinery back to work quickly.

Acadia is pleased to share this material for the benefit of its customers. Please note, however, that nothing herein should be construed as either legal advice or the provision of professional consulting services. This material is for informational purposes only, and while reasonable care has been utilized in compiling this information, no warranty or representation is made as to accuracy or completeness.

Safety

*This sign-in sheet is intended to be used with the quarterly Safety Training Topic on page 35. Refer to the cutline on page 35 when removing it from the magazine.

Maine’s Forest Rangers

ByJeffreyCurrier

RegionalForest

Ranger

MaineForestService

Mutual respect and trust define professional and meaningful relationships by allowing us to protect those things in life which are most valuable to us – our families, our homes, our environment, and each other. The relationship between Maine’s Forest Rangers and our state’s hard-working, dedicated, and professional loggers is an example of one grounded in these aspects of mutual respect and trust. Many would assume that there could be an adversarial relationship between our state’s forest rangers and our professional loggers. But the keyword in this last sentence is “professional.” Maine’s forest rangers are within the Forest Protection division of the Maine Forest Service. We, along with the Forest Management and Forest Health divisions take great pleasure in working with professionals who strive to be service-oriented to their landowner clients while conducting socially and environmentally responsible logging. Professional logging is an occupation steeped in our heritage and is a backbone of Maine’s history and our overall economy.

The role of a Maine Forest Ranger goes beyond the enforcement of laws regulating the activities of our state’s timber harvesting industry. It has expanded to the position of providing investigative and protective services for our state’s logging industry. No better example illustrating this is what we refer to as “timber asset security checks.” These are highly visible, proactive, and frequent forest ranger patrol activities for the sole purpose of deterring and preventing the theft from and vandalism to costly logging equipment. Our forest rangers make it a priority all the time, but especially on weekends and holidays, to make visits to logging job sites to check on the security of the significant investments of Maine’s professional logging contractors. And when we speak of high visibility, we mean it. We want people to see us at these sites because we feel strongly about crime deterrence. We want those who know logging sites are excellent opportunities for theft and vandalism to think twice before making a wrong decision. And we would like potential thieves, and the would-be

victim logging contractors who own the equipment, to see that we have been there. As such, we leave ‘Forest Ranger Courtesy Cards’ on select pieces of equipment to show our activities. Each year, we distribute tags on thousands of pieces of logging equipment in all areas of the state. The response to this work has been very favorable, and we appreciate the support for doing a part of our job that is often unseen but is hugely important.

When a logging contractor is a victim of theft and vandalism to their logging equipment, we consider ourselves a useful investigative resource. Over the last several years, Maine’s Forest Rangers have taken a more significant role in the investigation of these crimes. We take very seriously the impacts that even a simple vandalism case can have on an operation’s production, not to mention the monetary loss in repairs and replacement parts procurement. On the human side, we also consider the stress that these incidents can cause to contractors who manage this highly technical business, often operating on slim profit margins, and that is regularly under significant time quotas for deliveries. Learning that Maine forest rangers training includes evidence recovery and interview/interrogation might be a surprise to some. We are trained and equipped to collect fingerprints and even DNA evidence. We work closely with the Maine State Police Crime Lab, and we can point to numerous examples of cases where we have successfully prosecuted those who have chosen to victimize professional loggers. Our Division’s Forensic Specialist, Ranger Steve Wipperman, is an associate member of the Maine State Police Evidence Recovery Team. Ranger Wipperman has received national recognition for his work, is a fully certified evidence recovery technician and he has cleared some of our most complex logging theft and vandalism cases in Northern Maine. Also, Ranger Wipperman teaches our entire forest ranger force regularly in these essential skills and has mentored future forensics specialists.

Maine’s Forest Rangers are well known as first responders for our primary mission of wildfire control. We have statewide jurisdiction and authority for wildfires in all areas of the state. In our state’s unorganized territories, accounting for 46% of our state’s total land area, we are solely responsible for wildfire control (*another 10% of Maine are municipalities without fire departments). And as the municipal fire service in Maine continues to struggle

with declining numbers of firefighters, our wildfire response role is becoming more significant in rural Maine. We also respond to fire incidents where logging equipment is involved. Our forest ranger patrol vehicles have water tanks aboard, and we have a strategically located force of fire engines and large water tenders across Maine. Our helicopters are also a highly valuable initial attack resource. Note that we plan to continue the fire prevention training of PLC-Maine members.

In speaking of our helicopters, we are fortunate to be able to provide the use of “helicopter short-haul rescue” techniques. We use this technique to insert forest rangers into remote areas for wildfire response and to “points of injury” to extract people needing emergency medical services. While most of our rescues have involved injured hikers, PLCMaine members should know that this resource is available to wounded loggers and foresters in the backcountry. Limitations on this life -saving service include an inability to perform in some inclement weather, and there are no shorthauls at night.

As mentioned earlier, Maine’s forest rangers are grateful for the support we receive from PLC -Maine. No more magnificent example of this is the legislative testimony that was given by PLCMaine Executive Director, Dana Doran, earlier this Spring: “From our perspective, the Forest Service provides vital fire suppression services for our members and their equipment. The quick work of their group could save millions of dollars of investment for family-based businesses. They also provide rescue and medevac services in difficult to reach places. With the ability to short-haul, they can deliver rescue personnel, including a paramedic, directly to the point of injury and lift an injured logger to a spot where an ambulance or LifeFlight can take them to the hospital. And lastly, the Forest Service provides critical asset security checks and you will see them on the weekends making sure that there is not theft or any damage done to our members equipment. We take that very seriously, and we thank them very much for that work.”

The relationship between our agency and Maine’s professional loggers is a strong one because it is grounded in the tenets of mutual respect and trust. We consider it a pleasure to have such a strong relationship with these professionals, and we are confident that it will not only sustain, but grow moving forward.

Ranger Steve Wipperman is a Forensic Specialist and associate member of the Maine State Police Evidence Recovery Team.

Introducing yourDistrict Foresters

MeetMikeRichard WestParis DistrictForester

It’s always a good time to ask: “Do you know who your District Forester is?” There are normally 10 District Foresters, covering the entire state of Maine.

District Foresters are the Maine Forest Service’s point persons for contact with woodland owners, loggers and foresters, and the citizenry at large. District Foresters lead educational workshops and woods tours, talk to school children and community groups, and work with private foresters and loggers to implement good woodland management. Most important, they can meet with you in your woods, and help you take the next step to achieve your goals for your land.

Mike Richard, West Paris

Mike Richard is the Maine Forest Service’s West Paris District Forester, covering Oxford county. A resident of Albany Township, Mike has lived in Western Maine for the past 7 years. He is a graduate from the University of New Hampshire’s Thompson School of Applied Science Forest Technology program and continued his studies to receive his bachelor’s degree in Forestry from UNH as well.

Prior to his current position, Mike worked as a forester for logging companies in Oxford County. He was also an operations forester with a timber investment firm in Northern New Hampshire/Western Maine. He has worked as both an intern and seasonal employee of the United States Forest Service in research projects and on the White Mountain National Forest’s timber program.

Mike is also a Maine licensed arborist and prior to working as a forester, climbed for multiple tree service companies in the region. He loves to share his passion for forestry and is always happy to help folks in need of the MFS’s help or input. When not at work Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and son, hiking, fly fishing and playing the guitar and banjo.

Mike's contact information and the towns he covers can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/ policy_management/ff/wm_df.html

As always, you can call the Maine Forest Service for more information or assistance at (207) 287-2791, or e-mail forestinfo@maine.gov

Information on District Foresters can be found at: www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/policy_management/ district_foresters.html

Thank

District Forester Mike Richard, above and at left.

Controlling Wateratthe HarvestSite

ByTomGilbert WaterResources Specialist

MaineForestService

As we move into the spring field season, the Maine Forest Service is developing a new series of “Level 1” BMP trainings which put extra emphasis on controlling water and minimizing disturbance at the harvest site. These are 2 of the 7 “fundamental BMPs” we have focused on in past trainings and are also mentioned in our BMP manual. Some of the main concepts in controlling water at the harvest site include:

▪ Understanding how water moves within the harvest area, and decide on control measures;

▪ Installing a system throughout the site to slow down runoff and spread it out;

▪ Reducing water velocity and volume (“The 2 Vs”); and

▪ Protecting the natural movement of water through wetlands if they must be crossed.

Site topography is an important consideration, since water will gain momentum as it travels down steeper slopes. The more velocity water gains, the more soil will erode. Keep in mind there are always water inputs upslope.

Also keep in mind that it is easier and more effective to control water in small amounts. This can be done by installing effective BMPs in the right locations throughout the site. By managing water in small volumes throughout the site, and diverting it to undisturbed forested areas, you are greatly reducing erosion potential.

The diagram demonstrates how runoff is

diverted into undisturbed forested areas in small volumes throughout the site. Several types of structures are used to divert runoff in many locations, preventing runoff from gaining volume or velocity so the forest floor is able to absorb the water. Note that in all examples, water is diverted outside of the buffer, represented by lines located along the stream channel. Buffer areas are in place as a last line of defense. It’s the system of BMPs used throughout the site that keep our water clean. Minimizing or avoiding impacts to wetlands is another way to reduce the volume and velocity of water at your harvest site. Wetlands contain a large amount of water in the soil, so driving through them with machinery will compact the soil and displace water, which may then travel to other locations of your harvest site. If a wetland cannot be avoided, minimizing impacts with corduroy and culverts as needed will reduce water displacement by increasing bearing capacity and allowing for the natural movement of water.

I hope to catch up with everyone during our Level 1 BMP training sessions this spring to discuss these and other topics in more detail. Until then stay safe!

For more information on fundamental forestry BMPs please see our field friendly BMP manual, Protecting Maine’s Water Quality, available on our website:

https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/ policy_management/water_resources/ bmps.html

Winter Camp 2020!

Pictures, above and opposite, from the Jan. 13 visit by UMaine Forest Operations

Winter Camp 2020 students to job sites of PLC Members

Kimball and Sons Logging and Trucking in Poland and Trees LTD. in Starks.

It was a great day with the students and an opportunity for them to see and hear from professional Maine loggers. Thanks to UMaine for the opportunity and to our members for hosting!

As We See It: February 2020

By Dave Duren

So, I’m driving south bound on U.S. 59, just entering the city limits of Diboll, and on the left, behind the car/truck fuel convenient station, sits a state trooper unit with a loaded log truck. Curiosity gets the better of me, so I made a U-turn to check it out.

I recognize the trooper as one who presents in logger training and education for the Texas Logging Council (TLC), and I pull up beside him as he was walking alongside the log truck trailer. I greet the trooper and ask him how he was doing; you know, the typical cordial greeting. However, since he knows what the TLC is trying to do to promote truck safety, he voluntarily gives me a few details about the stop. He does not name anyone, and I don’t even think there is a company name on the side of the door. It’s just another log truck going through a typical inspection.

What I learned about the incident really begs the question, HOW and WHY does this stuff keep happening? For three years I’ve been the TLC’s coordinator and heard this statement numerous times, “so and so isn’t pro logger trained, doesn’t have the proper insurance, and yet they roll into these mills just like the rest of us.”

What am I talking about with my question? It turns out the driver of this truck did not have a proper driver’s license and, by the way, didn’t have one the last time he was stopped in the same truck by the same trooper a month or so ago. The truck and trailer were not registered, and there was no insurance. With the appearance of the tires and the apparent lack of maintenance, I would not have been caught dead in that truck.

Two things are happening here. The State has a revolving door policy when it comes to removing unlicensed drivers from the highways, and some of the area mills have a “look the other way policy,” because they are certainly not checking anything.

This past year the conversation in several people’s minds has been, “where are we going to find enough trucks to log the mills?” Truck safety is being preached basically from shore to shore in the hopes of stabilizing rising insurance rates threatening the profitability of logging contractors.

How long do you have to dance with a gorilla? Until the gorilla slams you down, or gently releases you. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell who the gorilla is.

Dave Duren is the Coordinator of the Texas Logging Council. The Texas Logging Council is an affiliation of private business men and women who make their living from the harvesting and delivery of wood fiber to forest products mills all over East Texas. Their purpose is to improve and expand the use of professional logging and trucking practices responsive to the needs of customers, employees, landowners and the general public; to provide educational training for members within the logging and hauling professions; and to improve upon worker safety.

As We See It March 2020

By Shannon Jarvis

A heart felt thank you to the 580 logging professionals throughout the United States who took the time to complete the 1st ever American Loggers Council Logger Survey that began in November 2019 and concluded on December 31, 2019.

The 34 questions that appeared in the survey were primarily designed by our many sponsors in an effort to help them, and us, better understand the current state of the industry and what we could all do better to represent those that are gainfully employed in this profession that we call “logging.”

You have given us a glimpse of your needs to move forward with a successful operation as well as helped us all to rethink our priorities based on the issues that you believe are having the greatest impact on your ability to run your business.

We will begin posting the results of 2 to 3 survey questions with the results per week on our social media (Facebook©) page, American Loggers Council, and ask that you please provide comments on those results.

A lot of the questions were cut-and-dry yes/no or A,B,C,D answer requests, but if you have further comments, we would like to hear from you. The American Loggers Council is currently setting priorities for the next several years and we want to make certain that those priorities are aligned with those that we represent. While we can’t do much about the price of diesel or weather-related downtime, working together we can try and help implement change that will produce greater efficiencies and an improved operating environment for you, the professional logger and log hauler.

Thank you for all of you that support the American Loggers Council, and we look forward to serving you for years to come.

Shannon Jarvis is the current President of the American Loggers Council and owner of Jarvis Timber Company, LLC based in Potosi, Missouri.

As We See ItApril 2020

“Meeting Essential Needs During a Global Pandemic”

By Nick Smith

COVID-19 is challenging our society in many ways. Today we appreciate the men and women who are serving on the front lines of this epidemic and making personal sacrifices to provide care to those in need. Judging by shortages of medical supplies and many household items, the epidemic should give us an appreciation for the basic resources we depend on- and those who provide them.

Foresters and loggers practiced social distancing long before the pandemic response required it. But there are good reasons why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security identified the forest sector as an essential critical infrastructure workforce as the nation responds to COVID19. Those who harvest, manufacture and transport woodbased products are helping ensure our medical professionals, first-responders and the rest of us have the essentials we need to weather this crisis. These essentials include, but are not limited to:

• Masks

• Filters

• Tissue papers

• Disinfecting wipes

• Cleaning products

• Cellulose-based pill fillers

• Latex gloves and other protective products

• Wood pallets to move food, medical supplies and other critical goods

• Lumber and plywood for emergency structures and shelters

• Fuel for energy production and heating

We are all in this together. We all have a role to play, even if that is simply staying home and staying healthy to protect others. Our forests and those who work in the woods are also doing their jobs, and hopefully our society will remember our important connection to this natural resource long after our nation has recovered.

Nick Smith is Executive Director of Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities.

TCNEF launches NE Safe Logger

AUGUSTA - The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands (TCNEF) has launched a new online safety and workers comp. compliance training program for loggers that will offer significant insurance savings for those businesses whose employees successfully complete the training.

Northeast (NE) Safe Logger is an entry level program created by loggers for loggers. Affordable, efficient and relevant, it will allow participants to obtain the discounted “certified logger” rate for workers’ compensation insurance in the state of Maine. The program is being launched in Maine first, and will be expanded to other Northeast states in the future.

NE Safe Logger offers 16 hours of interactive online training available on a computer, tablet or smart phone that can be completed at the user’s own pace anytime day or night. The training can be saved and restarted at any time during a 14-day training period.

Topics covered in the training include:

•Bloodborne Pathogens

•Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid

•Fire extinguisher safety

•Fire Safety

•Hazard Communication

•Hearing Conservation

•Industrial Ergonomics

•Materials Handling

•Sexual harassment

•Hand and portable powered tools

•Daily Inspection of mandatory PPE, ROPS / FOPS, Seatbelts

•Walking and working surfaces

•Serviceable condition

•Mounting steps and handholds

•Separation of operations

•Visual or audible communications between employees

•Overhead electric lines

•Environmental conditions

•Safety and health hazards

•Flammable and combustible liquids

•Lock Out / Tag Out for logging equipment

The “certified logger” rate for workers’ compensation insurance in Maine offers significant savings. Companies should contact their insurance company directly for more information.

The cost for an individual to enroll in the training is $100 if they are an employee of a Northeast Master Logger

Certified company, $150 if they are an employee of a member company of the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine, and $300 for all others.

The initial credential provided by successful completion of the training is good for two years. To obtain requalification for an individual, the individual must work for a Northeast Master Logger Certified company and must submit proof of completion of one of several approved requalification training programs to the TCNEF. Companies may contact TCNEF for more information on becoming a Master Logger Certified company.

Companies may choose to enroll an employee in additional training on topics that are not covered in the initial training or on a topic that the employee may need additional training on. These courses may qualify for the OSHA “training” standard – 1910.266(i) – (Training of an employee due to unsafe job performance, or assignment of new work tasks, tools, equipment, machines or vehicles) and may be used toward requalification. If an employee has already gone through an entry level training program and needs assistance with a subject, companies can also buy access to one course at a time. Companies may contact the TCNEF for a list of over 400 additional topics.

For more information on NE Safe Logger go to http:// www.tcnef.org/nesafelogger/, email: safety@maineloggers.com or call 207-688-8195 opt. 2. To enroll in the program, go to http://www.tcnef.org/registrationform/

The Northeast Master Logger Certification Program was created in 2001 by the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) as the first in the world point-of-harvest certification program, offering third party independent certification of logging companies’ harvesting practices. In 2003, the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine created The TCNEF to administer the program with the broader goal of “enhancing the health of working forest ecosystems through exceptional accountability” throughout the Northern Forest region.

In November 2019, the TCNEF was named a recipient of a 2019 Leadership Award from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for its work administering the Northeast Master Logger Certification Program and managing an FSC®-certified group of family woodlands.

For more information on the Northeast Master Logger Certification program or TCNEF, contact Ted Wright at (207) 688-8195 opt. 2 or executivedirector@tcnef.org. Additional information is also available at www.tcnef.org

Congressional Delegation Updates

Tariff Relief for the Hardwood Industry

The harm many Maine businesses have experienced due to the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China has been a reminder of how reliant many industries and jobs are on the global economy. Though our forest products industry remains rooted in our rural economy in Maine, market disruptions around the world can have a severe effect on companies in our great state.

Two years ago, China imposed retaliatory tariffs on hardwood lumber it imported from the U.S. Previously, China accounted for approximately half of all U.S. hardwood lumber exports, about $2 billion annually. In the 12 months since tariffs on U.S. hardwood were announced in July of 2018, lumber exports to China were down by $615 million. This action flooded the domestic market for this product, negatively affecting companies in Maine. Businesses have continued to see price cuts and a lack of demand for their products.

In January 2020, the U.S. and China signed the Phase

I’m always working to support and advance Maine’s forest economy in Washington, and nothing can take away that focus on supporting your work for our state – but for this quarter’s edition of the Maine Logger, I felt I needed to contribute a different type of column than normal. In a moment like this, it’s important to take every step we can to confront the challenges created by the coronavirus epidemic. Washington is sending help to combat this virus, but it’s up to us to stop the spread; here are a few simple and immediate things we can all do to help slow the spread of coronavirus in our communities.

1. If you’re sick, stay home. Probably the most obvious step you can take, but it’s so important that it’s worth repeating.

2. If you’re worried you might have coronavirus, call your doctor. Don’t just go into your doctor’s office without giving them a heads up. Call your doctor first, tell them what symptoms you’re experiencing, and work with them on a plan. If you can’t reach your doctor or don’t have one, call the Maine coronavirus hotline at 2-1-1 to connect with someone who can lay out next steps.

3. Even if you’re not sick, stay home as much as you can.

4. Wash your hands a lot. This one is simple, but it’s so important. Wash your hands often, for 20 seconds, with soap and hot water. If you’re not sure how to measure 20 seconds, sing a song if you sing “Sixteen Counties” on the slow side, you’ll be all set!

5. Keep your distance in social settings – six feet is the rule! (If you’re having trouble visualizing six feet, keep one moose in between you and the nearest person.)

6. Limit visits to nursing homes and elderly relatives. I

One Trade Deal. In general, I have supported this deal as it works to protect U.S. industry and jobs and promote economic growth. In February 2020, in order to comply with the purchase agreements included in the deal, the Chinese government announced that it would remove U.S. hardwood lumber import tariffs for one year. This includes cherry, ash, oak and other lumber and logs. In addition, the Chinese government committed to refunding Chinese companies the tariffs they have been charged on some species of hardwoods over the past couple of years.

This is a positive development for the industry and could help companies begin to see some relief. I also recognize, however, that challenges remain. As the National Hardwood Lumber Association notes, “work is underway to define exactly what [the Chinese government’s announcement] will mean for these products and what the definite tariff rate will be moving forward.”

Throughout Maine’s history, our forest products industry has helped drive local economies and provided goodpaying jobs in our rural communities. I will continue to advocate for fair policies that will help the forest products industry thrive in Maine. I also remain committed to working with the industry to help increase innovation in order to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century.

know this feels counterintuitive why would we not want to check in on our most vulnerable citizens during a crisis? But the fact is, more contacts for vulnerable people means more opportunities for them to catch the disease. For the moment, stick to phone calls or video chats. If you have elderly neighbors or loved ones, check on them remotely, and see if they need help picking up groceries or other pressing needs.

7. Think about your local businesses. Order take-out or delivery from restaurants; a call to your bookstore can get you a book as quickly as any online service; local retailers can put items aside for you for pick -up. A little extra love now can go a long way toward ensuring these local cornerstones will be there when this is behind us.

8. When in doubt, listen to the experts. The most-up-todate information and guidance is constantly evolving, so it’s important to check for updates. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Governor are monitoring this situation closely, so check in on the Maine CDC’s website and call 2-1-1 if you have questions. Also the national CDC has collected many helpful resources and guidelines at coronavirus.gov

This is a challenging time

but one we will get through, together. Be safe, be smart, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Sen. Susan Collins

Sen. Angus King

As Maine and our nation face many unknowns in responding to the coronavirus pandemic, I want to assure you that my staff and I are working tirelessly to support every Mainer during this unprecedented crisis, including the folks in the forestry and logging industry.

I am including in this column some resources that may be of use to you as we weather this storm. However, information is constantly changing, so I am updating pingree.house.gov/coronavirus as much as possible to reflect our response in Congress.

Congress must work to deliver significant funding and support packages to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak. As of this writing, we’ve passed two bills; one, a $8.3 billion emergency package to invest in state, local, and tribal public health agencies and develop a vaccine; the second, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, makes coronavirus testing free for most patients, assisted the SBA in creating low interest emergency loans , enhanced unemployment insurance, and we strengthened food security by removing USDA barriers. Both were signed into law by the President.

Because of efforts passed in the Families First bill, if your employment situation changes in the coming weeks or months due to coronavirus, please contact the Maine Department of Labor to discuss the expanded eligibility for unemployment insurance. This site is accessible at maine.gov/unemployment. Likewise, the Maine Department of Economic Development has been great at providing comprehensive information for businesses and self-employ individuals. Please visit maine.gov/

The coronavirus is tightening its grip on the economy in all parts of our state. In Maine, loggers are a key part of the supply chain and have been working to expand the markets for their forest products for years. But when demand dries up from small businesses in the middle of the supply chain sawmills and smaller paper mills, for example loggers are likely to see shrinking markets and reduced demand for their goods as well.

This is a time of uncertainty for everyone. Our country hasn’t seen anything like this virus in over a century and no one knows for sure how bad it will be, both for our public health and for our economy. I don’t have all the answers, but my staff and I can help small businesses and their workers navigate the federal resources available to them. That’s why I’ve been reaching out to Maine paper mills and sawmills to understand the challenges they are facing in trying to make payroll and maintain their operations as well as making sure they know about the federal grants, low-interest loans, and other tools that can help them weather these challenging times.

If your logging or forest products business is struggling due to the coronavirus, we urge you to reach out to our office for

decd.

If you are a small business owner, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is issuing Economic Injury Disaster Loans for the state of Maine. Many Maine businesses are having to close their doors or suffer significant loss of revenue due to this pandemic. If you fall into that category, you can apply for a targeted, low-interest loan by visiting disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

I know that more work is needed to support Mainers and their businesses in these uncertain times. I am working with my fellow Members of Congress to pass a third coronavirus response bill, this time with targeted financial relief for workers and the small businesses impacted. We must provide zero-interest loans, loan forgiveness, and more flexible terms on these working capital loans for Maine’s small businesses. Businesses need the resources to keep their doors open now, without having to worry about burdensome interest payments in the future.

Perhaps if there is one thing to hold top of mind during this crisis, it is the resiliency of Mainers and our forest products industry. Having faced losses and sudden downturns before, you more than most are an industry of people who harness the tenacity of a Maine forest and turn it into opportunity. The demand for Maine paper products in some sectors has risen in part due to this crisis, and our famous Yankee work ethic is not disappointing those customers as you continue to produce necessary consumer goods.

As we face this crisis together, know that protecting the health and economic livelihood of every Mainer is my number one priority. There is not a single person in our state who hasn’t felt the impact of this pandemic. I am here to support you, so please contact my office if there is anything I can do to keep you or your families safe and healthy during this time. The number for my Portland office is (207) 774-5019.

help. My office has set up a small business response team that specializes in working with Maine small businesses to navigate the federal resources available to them. You can email us at smallbizresponseteam@mail.house.gov. Usually they get back to you within 24 hours. We’ve also created a Small Business Resource Guide that answers many of the questions we’ve been hearing from the small businesses we work with and can help you start the application process. The guide can be found at: golden.house.gov/covid-19/small-business-resource-guide I know loggers and forest products industry workers are struggling as well. Whether you’ve been laid-off, had your hours cut, or are taking time off to care for a family member, the coronavirus is having a real impact on workers in logging communities. On top of the economic impact payments of $1,200 that Congress passed, there are additional resources we can help you and your family access to weather this economic downturn. If we can’t help you or answer your questions, we’ll connect you with someone who can.

Contact our nearest office at the numbers listed below:

Bangor Office: 6 State Street, Bangor ME 04401. Phone: (207) 249-7400

Caribou Office: 7 Hatch Drive, Suite 230, Caribou ME 04736. Phone: (207) 492-6009

Lewiston Office: 179 Lisbon Street, Lewiston ME 04240. Phone: (207) 241-6767

Rep. Chellie Pingree

Rep. Jared Golden