From Ron
Alas, the dreams of yet another gubernatorial port-wannabe are about to find their way into the rubbish heap of Sears Island history, joining Jock McKernan's cargoport proposal, Angus King's woodchip port plan, and John Baldacci's 2005 LNG port plan.
For, locked down by three (yes THREE) lawsuits -with promises of more to come- the validity of the conservation easement over the eastern portion of Sears Island is now clouded.
That easement - making it possible to dredge away the seagrasses and upland wetlands of the rest of Sears Island without having to pay for mitigation - was the essential sweetener without which no port wannabe will give Sears Island a second look.
With the easement facing either immediate dissolution at the hands of Maine Superior Court or, at best, years of litigation, Maine Coast Heritage Trust's perpetual easement is lost the legal clouds
Governor Baldacci's latest port plan is dead on arrival.
From Astrig
In a time when there's no manufacturing on the horizon, there's no demand for goods shipped from Penobscot Bay to Chicago and Halifax already has its container port well underway; our state is looking to waste money and destroy the tourism nature based and cultural tourism economy that exists on our coast with the promise that "if we build it, they will come." This philosophy didn't prove true with all of the investment made at Mack Point...why will it be true now? When DOT wants to back up their claims with studies that "prove" the East Coast needs ANOTHER port is Searsport, ask them who funded the study.
For further perspective, take a look at the Brookings report that concludes Maine's most valuable resource is its sense of place and natural beauty...that study wasn't funded by special interests.
From John
The Portland International Marine Terminal is pretty much shut down from a lack of business. This is an existing and viable working waterfront that is in need of investment for redevelopment. Spending our tax dollars on developing Sears Island would put further strain on Routes 1 and 3, while Portland has the necessary infrastructure in place, including major roads, highways, and rail service capability.
From Harold
The east coast has oversupply of freighter port dockage now. CT, where I live, refused to develop the deepwater port of Bridgeport, CT in the 1990s for this reason, despite 60 miles market access to NYC, and existing truck and train infrastructure to the entire northeast and Canada. CT knew they would not recapture their investment, nor make anyone any money.
A Sears Island port would be bankrupt upon completion, could bankrupt its municipal supporters, and could destroy the major regional industry of tourism, plus the environment. High coastal property values and taxes would then fall, risking municipal budgets and more.
There is no demand for Sears, and where the country is in a depression, there is no foreseeable demand for Sears. At best it is a short term make work project for locals and a gift to railroad speculators who cannot offer permanent jobs or sustainable development.
Attorney Harold Burbank
Northport, ME (ME native)
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