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Maine Chapter
- Sierra Club
February 10, 2005
Volume 3 No. 4
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LD 277: An Act To Ensure That Sears Island Will Be Used for
Industrial and Commercial Purposes.
THE ISSUE:
Just when it looks like the thirty year battle to SAVE SEARS ISLAND for
recreational, conservation and other compatible uses was about to be resolved,
Representative Terrance McKenney representing Cumberland and North Yarmouth
introduced LD 277: An Act To Ensure That Sears Island Will Be Used for
Industrial and Commercial Purposes.
This bill
requires that Sears Island be managed primarily for industrial and commercial
purposes.
Three Republican colleagues also from southern Maine joined McKenney in
co-sponsoring the bill. They are Rep. Ronald Collins of Wells, also a member
of the Transportation Committee, Sen. Karl Turner of Cumberland and Sen.
Jonathan Courtney of York.
Background
Dec. 2003 - April 2004 Siting of an LNG terminal on Sears Island discussed
between MDOT and undisclosed company. Penobscot Bay residents respond in
protest.
Following that, Governor Baldacci assured the town of Searsport that LNG would
not be imposed on an unwilling community much to the relief of most Searsport
and bay area residents.
Governor Baldacci assured Searsport residents there, environmental groups and
others that a stakeholder process to develop a long-term management plan that
would provide for participation by the larger Maine community along with
Searsport residents.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
FAX: A letter of opposition to the Transportation Committee:
287-8813
Write/Call: Transportation Committee Members today (see below
for more info).
Attend
Public Hearing: February 15th, 1:00pm Room 127 State House. Alert
your legislator.
SAMPLE LETTER
IN OPPOSITION TO LD 277
Dear Representative McKenney and
/or Transportation Committee Members
I am writing in opposition to L.D. 277 and to ask you to withdraw the bill
from consideration by the legislature/or vote not to pass within the
transportation Committee.
This bill interferes with and is not consistent with :
1. The Searsport local planning process - a directive made by the Governor in
July 2004 for an open public process regarding the planning for Sears Island.
The island is worth protecting, environmentally and economically.
2. Various proposals to develop Sears Island made by government and industry,
including building an oil refinery, a nuclear power plant, a coal power plant,
a new container port and, of course, a liquefied natural gas terminal, each of
these proposals failed despite staunch support from governors, senators, local
elected officials and various commercial interests.
Despite support by the state and town, the container port and other proposals
failed because there was insufficient support from the broader Penobscot Bay
community and citizens of the state that, care about and are affected by, the
future of Sears Island and the upper bay.
I urge you to (withdraw this legislation) not to support this legislation.
Sincerely,
Your name
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