A common criticism has emerged from the Maine Land Use Regulatory Commission’s stunning rejection of the Redington Pond Range and Black Nubble Mountain wind projects: Maine lacks a comprehensive siting plan for these alternative energy projects.

The critics are half-right. Maine actually lacks an updated comprehensive plan for the entirety of its territory under LURC’s purview, some 10.5 million acres of mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, streams, meadows, towns, townships, and plantations that comprise half of the state’s total area.

LURC is working on an updated plan to protect Maine’s pristine wilderness. But the agency is also working on Plum Creek’s controversial proposal for resorts and housing around Moosehead Lake, on TransCanada’s application for wind power in Kibby Township, and many, many others.

The question of whether LURC is large enough to manage its evolving responsibilities is as evergreen as the forests of the North Woods. It needs to be revived again, in the wake of Redington/Black Nubble, and against the looming shadow of Plum Creek, which promises the most divisive debate in LURC’s 36-year history.

The foundation for strengthening LURC has already been poured. In December, a state study commission on unorganized territory recommended restoring cut LURC staff, opening new revenue streams, and pairing LURC with the attorney general to collect assessments from delinquent towns or plantations.

As constituted, LURC staffs its central, and six regional offices, with approximately 22 full-time employees. The agency’s annual appropriation from the state’s general fund has also fluctuated wildly since 1997, some years increasing as much as 7.4 percent, and other years plummeting as much as 10 percent.

These inconsistencies indicate a governmental approach to LURC as fragmented as critics of the agency consider its approach to managing Maine’s wilderness.

Prolonged, and contentious, reviews of pending projects are but one of the agency’s problems. The immense task of updating its comprehensive plan, and the frightening paucity of staff to monitor and enforce its regulations on existing developments, are also looming concerns.

“We don’t get to [planning] because these other large-scale projects that the planning staff is involved with,” LURC Commissioner Steve Wight of Newry told the Morning-Sentinel recently. “There are not enough hours in the day to do the job that needs to be done.”

Maine’s changing economy, and changing values, will inalienably alter its wilderness. It’s already happening with Plum Creek, and the scheduling of LURC hearings in late March on Ktaadn Resorts, a $65 million “ecotourism” development on 244 acres along Millinocket Lake. More projects will surely follow.

LURC should have the “hours in the day” it needs to assess these projects, complete its comprehensive planning and bolster its enforcement.

Leaving the agency overworked, or underfunded, is as dangerous to Maine’s environment as any development.