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Sears Island Update - May 2008
After more than thirty five years of controversy over what
many call the “jewel” in Penobscot Bay, the Sierra Club and others concerned
about the environment have helped to develop a plan that finally creates and
codifies a permanent conservation easement on 600 acres, including an impressive
four miles of coastline, myriad acres of wetland habitat and public access.
The Sierra
Club has never endorsed a port on Sears Island. Our position has, among
other things, been to emphasize that a Mack Point build out is essential and
that appropriate uses for Mack Point and Sears Island are; compatibly managed
marine transportation, recreation, education and conservation. According to the
2007 Sears Island Planning Initiative (SIPI) consensus agreement, “Permitting
for a Cargo Port: It is understood that none of the parties are endorsing in
advance any proposal for a marine transportation facility”.
Information and
documents of the Sears Island Planning Initiative and the Joint Use Planning
Committee can be found on
http://www.state.me.us/doc/initiatives/SearsIsland/SearsIsland.shtml
Sears Island Op-Ed
Sears Island glistens in the dramatic autumn
sunlight. On the old apple tree trail, still mostly green, the light is dappled,
warm and inviting. Ocher grasses in the estuary, touched by red, blaze today as
if on fire. Not far offshore, white sails, stunning in their contrast with the
marine blue water, bend to the westerly breeze... imagine groups of children
taking salinity tests in the marsh, talking excitedly with a teacher about the
web of life, meeting in an open field to watch migrating birds, or tracking fox
along a woodland trail. It's easy to imagine a more extensive trail system with
scenic overlook stations and interpretive aids. It's even easy to imagine people
some day arriving in Searsport by boat from Rockland and leaving by train for
Baxter State Park after visiting Sears Island. (From the Op Ed piece
Preserve Sears Island while promoting economy
by Becky Bartovics and Marietta Ramsdell.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - Bangor Daily
News. Read the
article.)
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For more information about
Sears Island, to take part in efforts to protect the island or for a natural
history tour, call the Sierra Club 761-5616 and visit our calendar of events at
http://www.maine.sierraclub.org/calendar.htm. To learn more about this
issue visit the
Maine Department of Conservation's website on the
Sears Island Facilitation Services Planning Initiative.
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