• Barringer, Richard
  Maine Department of Conservation
  
• Bartlett, Robert
  Great Northern Paper Company
  
• Dimond, John
  University of Maine
  
• Gardiner, Robert
  Natural Resources Council of Maine
  
• Morton, Richard
  Maine Legislature
  
• Raish, Robert
  U.S. Forest Service
  
• Stowell, Rand
  Maine Forest Products Council
  

Legislation enacted by the 109th Maine Legislature early in

1979 mandated that the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation

present to the Legislature by January 1, 1980, his recommendations

for future spruce budworm control policy in Maine, and draft legislation

to implement then (Chapter 69, Section 7, of the Public Laws

of 1979).

The Commissioner invited a number of representatives of interested

organizations to assist the Department of Conservation in this policy

review. The Budworm Policy Review Committee, chaired by the Commissioner,

met frequently during the summer and fall of 1979 to consider options

for budworm management, and how they might best be administered and

financed to meet the Legislatures stated policy objectives. These

include a significant reduction in pesticide use in the Maine forest;

maximum landowner freedom to choose whether or not to participate in

any future spray projects; a more equitable distribution of budworm

protection program costs among affected landowners; and reduction of

the tax burden on owners not being sprayed in a given year. Throughout

its deliberations, the Committee received assistance from the staffs

of the Green Woods Project, the Maine Forest Service, and the U.S.

Forest Service.

The findings and recommendations which follow are the result of

the Committees deliberations. Together with the public comments and

reactions to them, they will be considered by the Commissioner in making

his final recommendations to the Legislature.