LNG opposition draws strength from varied sources

The primary opponent in Maine to the development of liquefied natural gas terminals on Passamaquoddy Bay has been the group Save Passamaquoddy Bay, which was formed in response to developer interest in building in eastern Washington County.

Save Passamaquoddy Bay consists of residents of the Passamaquoddy Bay area, which is divided between the United States and Canada. The group’s description of itself as a “three-nation alliance” refers to those two countries plus the Passamaquoddy Tribe, which has members on both sides of the border.

The primary American representatives for the group include Eastport couple Robert and Linda Godfrey and Perry resident Gary Guisinger. Art McKay, executive director of the St. Croix Estuary Project, has been a leader of citizen opposition on the Canadian side of the bay.

Members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe who are part of the opposition alliance call their group Ntulankeyutmonen Nkihtaqmikon, which is translated as “we take care of the homeland.” Tribal members Madonna Soctomah, Hilda Lewis, Mary Bassett, Vera Francis and David Moses Bridges have been among leaders of the group’s vocal opposition to the proposed terminals.

One of the developers, Quoddy Bay LLC of Oklahoma City, Okla., has signed a lease agreement with elected leaders of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point to develop a terminal facility on tribal land at Split Rock. Members of Ntulankeyutmonen Nkihtaqmikon have filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Indian Affairs in federal court in Bangor, claiming the agency violated federal law when it approved the developer’s lease agreement with the tribe. The lawsuit is still pending.

New Brunswick organizations Atlantic Salmon Federation, Friends of Head Harbour Lightstation, Fundy North Fishermen’s Association, Huntsman Marine Sciences Centre, Nature Trust of New Brunswick, and New Brunswick Tourism Action Group all have raised concerns about the projects with federal regulators in the United States.

Canadian opposition to the proposed developments is not limited to local residents and groups, however. Several politicians, including John Craig, the mayor of New Brunswick waterfront resort town St. Andrews, and New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord have voiced opposition to building LNG terminals anywhere in Passamaquoddy Bay.

Even Stephen Harper, Canada’s prime minister, Cabinet Minster Greg Thompson, and Michael Wilson, Canada’s ambassador to the United States, have indicated that LNG terminals would be inappropriate on the bay. The Canaport LNG terminal under construction in Saint John is suitable for its location, they have said, but heavy industrial uses should not be introduced to the relatively undeveloped environment of Passamaquoddy Bay.

Save Passamaquoddy Bay members have echoed these arguments and pointed to other concerns as well. Other economic activity in the bay such as tourism and fishing could be adversely affected by LNG development, they have said. Global concerns about the availability of natural gas and competition for developing terminals in the Northeast likely will make the Maine proposals impractical, according to opponents.

They also have argued that the approach into the bay through Head Harbour Passage, which lies in Canadian waters, is too difficult to be navigated safely by large LNG tankers. The presence of large quantities of the combustible fuel poses a threat to the environment and to the well-being of local residents, they have said.

Many Maine residents and some groups, however, also have disputed claims of LNG traffic being unsafe and have said the terminals will bring much-needed economic development to the region. Gov. John Baldacci has said he’ll support LNG development in municipalities where it’s supported by local residents.

No federal officials in the United States, elected or otherwise, are known to have taken a position on LNG development on the bay.

In March 2005 Perry residents voted 279-214 against a Quoddy Bay proposal to build storage tanks in their town, but Quoddy Bay officials have continued to pursue their proposal with federal regulators. In January, Robbinston residents voted 227-83 in support of a proposal from Washington-based Downeast LNG to develop a terminal in the local village of Mill Cove.