LP(R) Breaks Ground on Houlton, Maine Oriented Strand Lumber Facility; Expansion Project Enhances LP's Engineered Wood Products Line.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP) (NYSE: LPX) today broke ground on its Houlton, Maine Oriented Strand Lumber (OSL) facility, scheduled to begin production in late 2007. Maine Governor John Baldacci joined LP CEO Rick Frost and other LP, state and local dignitaries for the groundbreaking ceremony.

OSL, an engineered wood product manufactured using strand technology, will meet home construction demands for alternative engineered products in lumber applications. The Houlton facility will be LP's first OSL manufacturing facility, and will be one of the few producers of OSL in North America.

"LP looks forward to completing the Houlton OSL project and expanding our engineered wood product offering," said Frost. "I am confident the talented and experienced LP Houlton employees will make a smooth transition to successfully producing OSL."

"Maine's workers are an extremely valuable asset to our economy," said Baldacci. "I thank Louisiana-Pacific for recognizing that we have the best work force in the nation here in Maine."

Opening in April 1982, the Houlton facility served as a flagship for LP OSB manufacturing. Similarly, Houlton's conversion from OSB to OSL will play a key role in LP's future. LP plans to invest more than $100 million in the OSL expansion project.

"LP appreciates the support of the state of Maine and the Houlton community," said Skip Cleary, LP Houlton plant manager. "This expansion project provides a solid foundation for LP's continued presence in the Houlton community for years to come."

LP Houlton employs more than 120 workers and stimulates the local economy through payroll, taxes, log purchasing and contract labor. LP Houlton has been nationally recognized for excellence in safety as an Occupational Safety and Health Administration Voluntary Protection Program STAR site and in environmental performance as a member of the Environmental Protection Agency's exclusive Performance Track Program.

LP, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., is a premier supplier of building products, manufacturing innovative, high-quality commodity and specialty products to its retail, wholesale, homebuilding and industrial customers. LP operates 29 mills across the U.S., Canada and Chile, and employs more than 5,500. Visit LP's Web site at www.lpcorp.com for additional information on the company.