FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Richard Fecteau - 778-0870

Sent: Nov. 30, 2004

The Maine Department of Conservation (DOC) under intense political pressure from certain well placed lobbyists has reversed itself and has granted a right of way through the Bigelow Preserve. This is the assertion of Friends of Bigelow (FOB), the group that spearheaded the creation of the Bigelow Preserve in 1976 by public referendum. The right of way, which was requested by ski lodge developers operating under the name of Western Mountain Foundation (WMF), has been a controversial issue for several years.

Friends of Bigelow criticized the recent action by the Baldacci administration. According to Richard Fecteau, chairperson of Friends of Bigelow, "The Maine Department of Conservation has bypassed the Bigelow Advisory Committee and given Western Mountain Foundation an agreement to "temporarily construct a groomed cross country ski trail through the Bigelow Preserve". This new agreement places no standards of conduct, construction or financial capability on WMF and is strongly opposed by Friends of Bigelow and the Maine Sierra Club."

Fecteau said, "As recently as last summer, staff at the Bureau of Parks and Lands who are responsible for managing the Bigelow Preserve had suggested that any action on the proposed right of way be reviewed in the upcoming management planning process for the preserve next year." However, Fecteau said he believes that WMF realized that the planning process schedule didn't fit their fundraising plans and arranged a meeting with Governor Baldacci to exert pressure on the Department to give permission for a trail.

Pamela Prodan, the attorney representing Friends of Bigelow, was surprised to learn that the Department of Conservation has given Western Mountains Foundation some trail rights to use the Bigelow Preserve for the hut and trail system. Prodan pointed out that the hut and trail system is a commercial enterprise. "The plan is to charge fees for the use of their facilities, and presumably, there will be some spin-off businesses, such as marketing and promotion. On its face, this venture is counter to the restrictions against commercialization placed on the Bigelow Preserve when it was created."

Prodan added that Western Mountains Foundation has been on increasingly shaky financial grounds since its inception. In 2003, the organization filed an income tax return with the IRS stating it had total liabilities of $138,847 but total assets of only $71,423. "It makes me wonder, who is actually going to be responsible for the trail through the Preserve?"

Prodan pointed out that the federal income tax returns that public charities file with the IRS are now open to public inspection on the internet. She cautioned potential donors, "It is a good idea to take advantage of the availability of this information before entering into a relationship or making a donation to a charity. It is easy to check on the financial health of an organization and see whether it may be facing solvency problems down the road. It could save you from disappointment, when you wonder where your money went."

WMF has been promoting its ambitious but controversial 180 mile route and $500,000 lodges through some of the most scenic backcountry areas remaining in Western Maine for the past four years. In public statements, FOB has referred to the WMF proposal that includes debt in the millions of dollars to construct lodges in the backcountry as a financial boondoggle.

The Baldacci administration continues to support the WMF proposal as economic development. Fecteau noted that with administration support, WMF is seeking to partially finance the development with the taxpayer supported funds of the Finance Authority of Maine. A bill to alter the Bigelow Act was introduced by WMF in a past legislation session, but withdrawn in the face of a public outcry.