As officials of the Pasamaquoddy Tribe move forward with a proposal liquefied natural gas facility in Washington County, much more information is needed. Basic questions, such as the practicality of building an LNG terminal in an area of extremely high tides and difficult navigation, need to be fully answered. Then, more difficult decisions, such as weighing the potential for much-needed jobs and revenue against the potential for damage to the environment, must be made. Neither the fact gathering, nor the philosophical debate, should be rushed.

LNG has become a buzzword in many coastal communities where the super-cooled gas is viewed either an unwarranted danger to fishermen, local residents and the environment or as economic salvation that will bring jobs and prosperity. So far seven proposals to build liquefied natural gas terminals on the New England coast, including in Harpswell and Searsport, have ended with rejection of such plans after divisive battles. The latest round of questioning is now occurring in and around the Passamaquoddy reservation at Pleasant Point.

In June, tribal officials announced that they had signed an exclusive development agreement with Quoddy Bay LLC, a Tulsa, Okla.-based company that is representing an interested energy company that has not been identified. The plan calls for an LNG import terminal and a possible electric cogeneration facility to be built on 40 acres of tribal land on Gleason Cove. A natural gas pipeline would be built to connect with the Maritimes & Northeast pipeline in Baileyville. The tribe and company have agreed to move forward with further feasibility studies, while preparing an application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which will have the final say on the project.

More study and discussion is an important first step. Large questions, such as the best location, from a safety and navigation perspective, must be answered. Gov. John Baldacci is right to want to direct such a facility, if it is to be built in Maine, to a region that desperately needs jobs and revenue. But, a welcoming community must also be a community that meets technical requirements. It is not yet clear that the Passamaquoddy Bay location does.

It is also not clear that the Pleasant Point reservation is a welcoming community. Many tribal members said they were shocked to learn of their government’s efforts to woo an LNG terminal to Passamaquoddy Bay. They say they have received little information about the plan. Since the June announcement, dissent has surfaced. Many tribal members worry that a decision to allow the facility would run counter to their tradition of caring for the environment. Supporters of the terminal say that providing jobs and opportunity for tribal members is more important the preserving a traditional way of life and the environment.

Both groups could be right. According to Quoddy Bay LLC, the proposed $300 million plant could provide 70 permanent jobs and put millions into tribal coffers. Further study is needed to delve further into these numbers to ensure that they are realistic. If they are and they are attractive enough to most tribal members, environmental concerns must be addressed. The facility could be sited and built in such a way as to ensure that dangers are minimized.

To date, the debate over this preliminary proposal has taken place at Pleasant Point. Tribal representatives have already met with other local residents and officials to brief them on the project. Such discussion should continue and be broadened because talking with their neighbors now could prevent ill will and misunderstandings later.

It is understandable that an energy company wants to quickly jump in line to be among the 30 or so LNG projects now proposed in the United States, especially since it typically takes the federal government up to four years to approve such facilities. But, there are countless hurdles to cross to get to the head of the line.