A legal battle is now settled after the Portland International Jetport agreed to pay $125,000 to the city of South Portland.
The settlement is over a dispute that ignited last year when the airport cleared land along I-295 as part of a runway expansion, WGME-TV reports.
The city of South Portland issued a notice of violation to the jetport and the state’s Catholic diocese over unpermitted clear cutting.
Airport officials said they cleared trees from a lot on Dawson Street last year to comply with Federal Aviation Administration clearance guidelines.
The lot is part of the Calvary Cemetery and is owned by the diocese.
South Portland officials said the tree clearing impacted wetlands and exceeded the scope of what was permitted.
The airport obtained a permit in 2019 to cut trees on an adjacent lot in Calvary Cemetery to maintain a safe flight path for incoming aircraft.
However, the city said no permit was issued for clearing on the Dawson Street lot, which was stripped of most of its vegetation.
A spokesperson for the Portland diocese has said that the organization was not involved in the project and encouraged the jetport to resolve the issue.
As part of the settlement, the airport is expected to replant at least 75 trees in the clear-cut area, a portion of the payment will also go towards the city’s tree mitigation fund.
Portland Airport Fined $125,000 For Stripping Trees In South Portland
By Ted Cohen
