Write to stop Sears Island development

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re-emptive Strike and Capitulation is not a law firm representing the Maine Department of Transportation, but it should be. The state is fixing to win its pre-emptive strike against thousands of Mainers opposed to building a port on Sears Island. A dual-use policy for Sears Island is about to become law. Simply put, one-third of the island will be given to Homeland Security for port development and two-thirds will be given to local land trusts for environmental development.

The state launched this strike because environmentalists asked for a public hearing and decision-making process on the future of Sears Island. When Gov. John Baldacci agreed to our request, we hoped we could save the entire island. After all, the public was clearly behind us and all economic and social indicators pointed to the preservation of special natural resources such as Sears Island as the wise thing to do. Preserving the entire island as a nature-based tourist destination is still the wise thing to do. But what the state provided was much more than we anticipated and we were about to be had.

Gov. Baldacci insisted on a consensus dual-use agreement from business, the MDOT and Maine’s environmental community. He hired a facilitator to insure his dual-use agreement was reached, all the while stressing the importance of public opinion. That public and their opinion showed up in large numbers and said overwhelmingly and repeatedly that they wanted to keep the island undeveloped. Even Maine Sierra Club was calling for removal of the causeway.

But, in typical state fashion, more meetings were scheduled and more committees formed, the public lost interest and the only ones left at the meetings were the paid representatives of special interests. In spite of an overwhelmingly no-development position from the public, we end up with this consensus agreement that allows for both port and environmental development. Obviously not the will of the people.

Past development schemes were defeated by a green team starring the Sierra Club. But now the club has switched sides. It has teamed with the MDOT and business and it supports a proposal that allows for a port to be built on Sears Island and removes its right to oppose the port when it comes. And the MDOT sneaks away with more land than it was hoping for – 9,340 acres rather than 280 acres – and a “no mas” promise from the Maine environmentalists.

Those of us opposing development of the island resent the Sierra Club’s willingness to capitulate and agree to the appropriateness and inevitability of a port on Sears Island. We believe the best future for the island involves preserving it in its entirety for the public and adding it to the signature natural resources we market to the world, sans port. After all, there is no pressing economic need for a cargo port here.

The state played this Sears Island situation brilliantly, although unfairly, and they hoodwinked us. It went to great lengths gathering public input then it ignored that input. It got the Sierra Club to bail on a long-held principle and soon the dual-use plan will be approved in Augusta and become law with environmentalist support. The Sierra Club agrees the MDOT should actively market the Sears Island port concept immediately and promises not to oppose any future port proposals. That closes the door on a wild and free Sears Island forever, without a fight . The best part for the state is it will be able to claim environmental support for this betrayal of the public trust.

The Sierra Club’s capitulation is particularly depressing when you consider the threat Maine faces from Plum Creek and others. This is a time when Maine environmentalists should be banding together to fight the push for unnecessary development and profiteering and to preserve as many of our natural treasures as possible. We were hoping Sears Island would become a galvanizing issue for the environmental movement. How can we save the North Woods if we can’t save this tiny island?

We are deeply disappointed in the Sierra Club and others who secretly want a wild island but publicly support this agreement. It’s time for the large, influential environmental groups to live up to their responsibilities and speak out against the club’s support for this agreement.

We can still stop this. This agreement will unravel if the Sierra Club comes to its senses and withdraws its support. The state needs to appear green on this one, and it is getting the help of the Sierra Club. Please don’t let it get away with it.

You can help by writing Gov. Baldacci, asking him to respect public opinion and by asking the Sierra Club to withdraw its support for this agreement. Sign up to help us fight a port at FairPlayForSearIsland.org.

Harlan McLaughlin of Searsport is president of Fair Play For Sears Island.