BUCKSPORT – If you worry about things like local effects of global climate change; lament smoggy summer views from atop Great Pond Mountain; would like to make your home more energy efficient; wish you could get rid of safely a garage-full of old paint and fertilizer; or worry about bacteria tainting your favorite lake or clam flat, you’re far from alone, according to a recent local survey.

The public is invited to a forum to discuss those issues and plan to take local action, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the Jewett Community Center, Bridge Street, in Bucksport.

In the event of a snowstorm and subsequent cancellation of adult education classes that day, the event would be postponed until 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Jewett Community Center. Check TV for a list of cancellations.

Last October, the environment and energy committee of the Bucksport Bay Healthy Communities Coalition distributed a public survey to determine which environmental issues were most important to residents in the Bucksport Bay area.

The survey, distributed through the Bucksport Enterprise and Bucksport Middle School, was designed for individuals to pick their top two issues in seven environmental categories.

Area residents responded strongly to the survey, with 304 people, including 15 children over age 9, returning results from 188 households.

At the public forum, residents can discuss the top five issues voted on, ask questions and offer their perspectives on environmental issues in the Bucksport Bay Area.

Information gathered will be used to help develop an action plan for the future work of the environment and energy committee. New members are welcome to join the effort. The full results of the survey also will be available the night of the meeting.

The top five environmental concerns of Bucksport Bay Area residents, according to the survey, with number of votes in parentheses following are:

. The effects of global climate change on human health, forests, food and water supplies and wildlife (221).

. Industrial air emissions – local, regional and national (220).

. Changes in types of energy used and increases in energy efficiency and savings (207).

. Opportunity to recycle paints, gasoline and other items at the Bucksport Transfer Station (187).

. Water discharge from sewer plant, septic tanks and storm water runoff (157).

The five concerns with the fewest votes were:

. Pet and animal waste runoff into marine and fresh water (10).

. Sea level rise with global climate change (16).

. Household furniture and furnishings effects on indoor air quality (20).

. Safe swimming in marine and fresh water (46).

. Rural residential development effects on quality of life (49).

The primary mission of the environment and energy committee is to motivate citizens in the Bucksport Bay area – Bucksport, Orland, Verona Island, Prospect and beyond – to take action to improve the health of people and environment.

The group plans to accomplish this, officials said, by identifying key environmental concerns and taking steps to raise awareness.

Through education activities that include adults and youth, and by taking local action steps, the committee hopes to accomplish measurable improvements in the local environment and energy consumption. State policy makers will be informed of the committee’s progress and create a model that can be duplicated in other communities across the state.

For more information, call Pam Person, chairwoman of the environment and energy committee, at 469-6770; or Mary Jane Bush, health planning director, Bucksport Bay Healthy Community Coalition, at 469-6682.