Katahdin-area snowmobile plan focus of public forum in Bangor

Officials with the Maine Department of Conservation will be in Bangor on Wednesday to hear public comments on current and future snowmobiling opportunities in the Katahdin region.

The Bureau of Parks and Lands is in the process of developing a comprehensive plan for snowmobiling in an area that stretches from Shin Pond in the north to Millinocket and Medway in the south.

The comprehensive plan is part of the controversial Katahdin Lake bill, LD 2015, that passed the Legislature earlier this year.

Legislators required the bureau to conduct the study after snowmobilers and sportsmen expressed concern about losing access to more woods in the Millinocket area.

Roxanne Quimby’s recent acquisition of 23,000 acres in Township 3, Range 8 and Township 2, Range 8 just east of Baxter State Park have further fueled concerns over land access. Quimby, the co-founder of Burt’s Bees, has indicated that she will likely ban hunting, snowmobiling and ATVs on the land.

Responding to an uproar among sportsmen and Millinocket-area officials, Gov. John Baldacci said last week that the state will build a road allowing hunters and snowmobilers to essentially bypass Quimby’s new lands.

Quimby has said the land would remain open to hiking, fishing, camping and other recreational activities.

Officials with the Bureau of Parks and Lands will hold two sessions Wednesday to discuss a comprehensive plan for snowmobiling in the Katahdin region.

Beginning at 9 a.m., they will hear from landowners and land managers. The meeting is open to the public, but public testimony will not be heard. The public comment session will begin at 1 p.m.

Both meetings will be held in the downstairs conference room of the Bangor Motor Inn, located at 701 Hogan Road.

Although pre-registration is not required, people planning to attend the meetings are asked to call Karen Morgan at (800) 462-1019 or send an e-mail to Karen.b.morgan@maine.gov to help officials determine how much space and refreshments will be needed.