SAVE THE DATE: SAT. MAY 18
PARTY AT SEARSPORT SHORES OCEAN CAMPGROUND WILL BE SATURDAY, MAY 18 FROM 4 – 7 PM. ALL ARE INVITED. MUSIC & FUN. BEVERAGES PROVIDED. GROUP PHOTO AT 5PM!!
SEARSPORT HARBOR DREDGING INFO SHEET
deadline for letters to Army Corps of Engineers is MAY 6!!
What’s Dredging Up? (April 28)
A quick reminder: the deadline to submit letters to the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the proposed expansion dredging project in Searsport Harbor is May 6. As we’ve stated previously, the maintenance dredging at this point is probably necessary as it has not been done for some time. This consists of only 4% of the total amount to be dredged. It is the other huge amount of expansion dredging (892,000 cubic yards) and its potentially toxic spoils that are of great concern. This “improvement” dredging spoils amount equals 553 acre feet! Why is the state doing this without reason?
The period that the dredging is planned to take place (November to April) is the time that several threatened species of waterfowl will be wintering on Sears Island. These include Barrow’s Golden Eye, Common Golden Eye and Buffleheads. In addition, the eagles which nest on Islesboro and Sears Island are of great concern as they use the both the dredging and the disposal areas to feed and could be affected by eating contaminated fish. Please follow this link to see a map of upper Pen Bay eagle nests.
Please follow this link to read the notice and see the Army Corps plans including project maps. Please see the info sheet which details reasons the dredging is problematic. It can be found by following this link. Take a moment to look at both documents, Belfast residents should be aware the primary disposal site is very close to the mouth of Belfast Harbor, which is where the Passagassawakeag River empties into the Bay.
Please consider writing and asking for a full Environmental Impact Statement to be conducted as well as asking for a public hearing for a job of this magnitude. Letters should perhaps focus on the expansion dredging, not the maintenance part. The deadline is May 6 and the address is:
Project Manager Barbara Blumeris
US Army Corps of Engineers
New England District, Engineering & Planning Division
696 Virginia Road
Concord, MA 01742
Or email at: cenaeep@usace.army.mil
Party at Searsport Shores
The celebration party will take place on Saturday, May 18 at Searsport Shores Campground from 4-7 pm. At 5pm we will take a group photo, so we encourage arrival by then and to please consider bringing foods as it will be a potluck. This party will be super-inclusive and we would love for all our friends at Islesboro Islands Trust, 350 Maine, Unity College, WERU and in the media to attend. The invite is also open to all Selectmen, City Councilors, Planning Board members and for all our friends in Stockton Springs, Belfast, Northport, Lincolnville and beyond to attend. The rain date will be Sunday.
We are happy to announce we have t-shirts available for purchase ($15). This super design was created by Forest Taber and printed in Searsport at Inner Sense Screen Printing. Thanks to both for a great job. They can be purchased at our office at 33 East Main St. Searsport (yellow door from 9:00-6:00) on Monday and Tuesday this week. We will be leaving this space on Tuesday.
Lastly, a special thanks to all our volunteers this weekend at the HOPE Festival and the Belfast Music Festival. Both events went well. Have a great week!
FROM ACoE: IT’S OFFICIAL!! (April 23)
We’re just got notice from the Army Corps of Engineers that the permit issued to DCP Midstream for the Searsport LPG Tank is revoked. In the words of TBNT/IIT co-counsel Kim Tucker, “This is really HUGE.” Thank you Kim and Steve Hinchman for making this happen. Please follow this link to read the letter.
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DCP Midstream, a Denver-based limited liability company, WAS proposing to build a 22.7 million gallon, 14 story liquefied petroleum gas mega-tank and terminal on Mack Point, Searsport, Maine. This heavy industrial project would bring critical harm to Searsport. We are relieved the application has been withdrawn.
THANKS BUT NO TANK
Thanks But No Tank (TBNT) is a coalition of residents and small business owners living and working in the Searsport region that seek to support, protect, and maintain the region’s economy, environment, scenic character, and quality of life. TBNT members are concerned with the safety and security impacts of the proposed DCP Midstream LPG Tank and Terminal; the associated truck, ship and rail traffic, as well as the excessive light, visual, noise, and air pollution would adversely and unduly affect their homes, businesses, environment, and quality of life.
Please see the fact page to learn more about this proposed project.
For all archived articles, presentations, and legal documents please click here.
