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Maine Ag Department Seeks to Reorganize

Mal Leary
/
MPBN

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine's Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is proposing a significant reorganization of bureaus and divisions.

The  plan includes the creation of a new unit to deal with natural resources law enforcement that would replace some traditional ranger positions.

Commissioner Walt Whitcomb says about two dozen positions are affected and, under the union contract, some early notices of the potential change have gone out.  

"The governor has, really, a vision for changing the mindset within the forest industry from strictly fire protection to addressing a lot of other concerns," Whitcomb says. "So we have created number of positions in the budget to look at other forest threats, not just fire."

Whitcomb says, if the changes are approved, he hopes many of those that hold current ranger positions will apply for the new law enforcement positions.

The proposal requires a public hearing and legislative approval.

 

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.