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Log inDual uses for Sears Island supported
Dual uses for Sears Island supported
by Outspoken on Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:45 am
Dual uses for Sears Island supported
But a panel of lawmakers puts the plan 'back in limbo' by tying port approval to conservation.
The Associated Press
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee gave its blessing Tuesday to a report that outlines a plan for Sears Island, whose destiny has been subject to decades of debate among conservationists, state officials and developers.
But new questions arose soon after the Transportation Committee voted unanimously to approve the report, which calls for a 601-acre conservation easement while reserving 330 acres for transportation uses on the state-owned island just off Searsport.
Sears Island has been eyed for 40 years by developers who came up with plans that included a refinery, coal power plant, liquefied natural gas terminal and cargo port.
Conservationists have had concerns over how those projects would affect the island habitat, as well as Penobscot Bay and surrounding communities.
Efforts to agree on how the island should be used led to the formation of working groups representing diverse interests, which have held discussions over the the past couple of years. The settlement is contained in a report that went before the Transportation Committee on Tuesday.
Searsport's 2,800 residents have been waiting for a decision on the island's use for decades, town manager James Gillway told the committee.
"We seemed to be at a standstill for many, many years," Gillway said. He added that the town has lost considerable tax revenue because no one has been using the 941-acre island.
Once an agreement was negotiated last year to identify appropriate uses, Gov. John Baldacci assigned a second group representing varied interests to establish a line separating transportation from conservation areas, and also to develop a perpetual conservation easement.
After debating the final plan Tuesday, lawmakers balked at signing on until some legal and technical questions were answered.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=222869&ac=PHnws
Press Herald file photo
But a panel of lawmakers puts the plan 'back in limbo' by tying port approval to conservation.
The Associated Press
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee gave its blessing Tuesday to a report that outlines a plan for Sears Island, whose destiny has been subject to decades of debate among conservationists, state officials and developers.
But new questions arose soon after the Transportation Committee voted unanimously to approve the report, which calls for a 601-acre conservation easement while reserving 330 acres for transportation uses on the state-owned island just off Searsport.
Sears Island has been eyed for 40 years by developers who came up with plans that included a refinery, coal power plant, liquefied natural gas terminal and cargo port.
Conservationists have had concerns over how those projects would affect the island habitat, as well as Penobscot Bay and surrounding communities.
Efforts to agree on how the island should be used led to the formation of working groups representing diverse interests, which have held discussions over the the past couple of years. The settlement is contained in a report that went before the Transportation Committee on Tuesday.
Searsport's 2,800 residents have been waiting for a decision on the island's use for decades, town manager James Gillway told the committee.
"We seemed to be at a standstill for many, many years," Gillway said. He added that the town has lost considerable tax revenue because no one has been using the 941-acre island.
Once an agreement was negotiated last year to identify appropriate uses, Gov. John Baldacci assigned a second group representing varied interests to establish a line separating transportation from conservation areas, and also to develop a perpetual conservation easement.
After debating the final plan Tuesday, lawmakers balked at signing on until some legal and technical questions were answered.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=222869&ac=PHnws
Press Herald file photo
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Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
