PRESQUE ISLE – More than 30 groups have been awarded intervenor status in the coming review of Plum Creek Timber Co.’s development plan for the Moosehead Lake region.

On Wednesday, members of the Land Use Regulation Commission granted requests from 32 parties to fully participate in the lengthy review of Plum Creek’s proposal to sell 975 house lots and build two resorts near Moosehead.

That is an unprecedented number of intervenors for a LURC application. But Plum Creek’s proposal is anything but typical.

The proposal is the largest rezoning request and development plan in Maine history. But project supporters point out that the proposal would trigger the second largest land conservation deal in U.S. history.

In exchange for LURC approval of its concept plan, Seattle-based Plum Creek is offering to permanently protect more than 400,000 acres of forestland in the Moosehead region through easements and land sales.

A wide variety of groups filed for intervenor status, ranging from the Maine Tourism Association and the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council to The Nature Conservancy and Professional Logging Contractors of Maine.

Intervenor status allows the groups to present evidence during public workshops and cross-examine other parties.

Eight environmental or conservation groups, including organizations such as the Natural Resources Council of Maine, were awarded intervenor status.

Another seven sporting or outdoor recreation groups were also named intervenors, as were nine business or economic development organizations.

Other categories included five county or town governments, three groups representing natural resources industry and one organization of Moosehead-area residents and businesses.

Nearly half of the organizations expressed at least partial support for Plum Creek’s plan while another 14 either did not indicate a position or said they plan to only offer information to the commission.

Only four intervening organizations – NRCM, Maine Audubon, Forest Ecology Network and RESTORE: The North Woods – have officially come out against the proposal.

“A lot of people came out in support of the plan, so we were surprised,” said Luke Muzzy, senior land asset manager for Plum Creek.

LURC staff will meet with the intervening parties on Friday to discuss next steps. Some intervenors may opt for a different designation as “interested parties,” which still allows them to offer testimony on certain aspects of the plan but will not necessitate having a representative attend every meeting.

“Once we start down this road, you commit yourself to some obligations that are very serious,” LURC chairman Bart Harvey said.

LURC staff have tentatively set aside a nearly two-week block in November for public hearings and work sessions on Plum Creek’s plan.

Members of the general public will have an opportunity to comment on the plan during public hearings held in several locations throughout the state that month.

For more information on Plum Creek’s development plan, go to http://www.maine.gov/doc/lurc.