Ashland logging firm pays fine for illegal clear-cut 25-acre harvest draws $1,000 penalty

ASHLAND – An Ashland woods operator has agreed to pay a $1,000 civil penalty – $40 per acre – for a clear-cut near Clayton Lake, about 60 miles west of Ashland, the Maine Forest Service said Wednesday.

The service conducted the investigation and negotiated the settlement with Clayton Lake Woodlands G.P. of Ashland.

The 25-acre clear-cut was in Township 11 Range 14 in Aroostook County.

The allegations included having inadequate separation zones and violating rules on size and arrangements of clear-cuts. The violations involved the state Forest Practices Act.

“This case resulted from inadequate harvest monitoring, not a willful violation,” said Tom Whitworth, northern regional enforcement coordinator with the Maine Forest Service. “We are pleased with the steps Clayton Lake Woodlands has taken to address its harvest monitoring and follow-up procedures.”

The company, according to the forest service, did not have an adequate harvest plan prepared by a licensed forester before starting its forest harvesting.

According to Whitworth, Clayton Lake Woodlands took responsibility for its violations. Along with paying the $1,000 penalty, the company agreed to file a report certifying the existence of the clear-cut.

The company also will inspect and report on any clear-cuts it created between Oct. 1, 1999, and Oct. 31, 2002. The company also has agreed to institute quality control measures to ensure future compliance with the Forest Practices Act.