There has been a lot concern over Plum Creek’s gradual shift from timber production to real estate development, particularly their recent closed-door negotiations with the Forest Service to expand permitted road easement use.
“Tester wants Plum Creek investigation,” an article in the June 25, 2008, issue of the Missoulian, provides a good overview of the situation.
A piece in the July 5, 2008, Washington Post titled “Closed-Door Deal Could Open Land In Montana” offers more information, although it is a little heavy on editorial content.
On a positive note, an article in this week’s Hungry Horse News, “Plum Creek inks massive land deal,” covers the announcement of “the largest land conservation purchase in the United States history” — the negotiated sale of about 30% of Plum Creek’s holdings in Montana to a pair of conservation groups.