AUGUSTA, Me.- Voters cut down a bill that would have set limits on timber harvesting on land subject to the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law and would require that a landowner obtain a permit from the Maine Forest Service prior to undertaking harvesting activities that will result in a clear-cut. Total cutting activities and cutting activities for each species group would not be able to exceed sustainable cutting levels for any rolling 10-year average.

The bill said that the yearly allowable cut levels may not be greater than the average annual growth during the past 10 years. Prior to issuing a permit for a clear-cut, if the bill passed, the Maine Forest Service would have to determine that the clear-cut is silviculturally justified, that there are no reasonable alternatives to the proposed clear-cut and that no undue adverse ecological damage will result for the clear-cut or the clear-cutting activities.

Seventy two percent of those who voted (430,839) cast a "No" vote on this bill.