After reading several articles regarding the so-called Plum Creek land protection deal with the state of Maine, I came to the conclusion that this proposalis nothing more than zoning changes on roughly 427,000 acres of land. Approximately 14,000 acres of which will be set aside permanent development, both residential and industrial.

A 30-year period is not a lasting conservation plan. If Rick Holley and others from Plum Creek are serious about land preservation, Plum Creek must submit a proposal to the state of Maine consisting of the following: a permanent conservation easement placed on the remaining 940,000 acres.

Plum Creek will still be able to cut and grow trees and no further development or fragmentation of the forests will occur.

Not until Plum Creek can present a true conservation easement to the state of Maine will Plum Creek be able to hold their heads high and say we did the right thing. Until then, the smoke screen continues for future land manipulations.

Paul A. Comtois

Ludlow, Mass.