BANGOR, Maine (AP) A pair of Maine lawmakers wants to get more of the state’s teenagers interested in logging.
Logging has a long history in deeply forested Maine. Independent Sen. Angus King and Democratic Rep. Jared Golden say they’re introducing legislation designed to “level the playing field for the logging trade with other agricultural fields.”
The lawmakers say their Future Loggers Careers Act would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to learn logging under parental supervision. They say that would allow the teenagers to contribute to family businesses, as well as help the businesses survive.
The group Professional Logging Contractors of Maine supports the legislation, which it says will help ensure a future generation of timber harvesters in the state. The bill includes safety provisions, including prohibiting manual chain saw use by minors.
