Pen Bay Report for February 18, 2017 Topics: Monhegan, St George, Rockland & Searsport

[Ron Huber]

WRFR Community Radio  Live stream    93.3fm Rockland  99.3fm Camden   Call-in# 207-593-0013

PENOBSCOT BAY REPORT & GULF OF MAINE MONITOR  2/18/17

Topics

Monhegan 

MAV leaders brief  legislature's Energy utilities and Technology Committee  on Jan 7th   Audio

On February 28 and 29th the federal review of the MAV begins with scoping sessions in St George and Monhegan  

See DOE on how to be involved and deadlines

Saint George

Matt Sterne of the  Significant Wildlife Preservation Committeewill  join us to speak on continuing efforts to fend off an intertidal ramp and float in Saint George's Watts Cove. The plan  came before the St George Board of Appeals, which sent it back to their planning board - which has already rejected it twice.

Matt Sterne is here to explain what is happening NOW

The appeals board had criticized the town planning board for its most recent handling of the application, saying the board had neglected to mention in its findings its concerns about  the project's impacts to "spawning grounds, fish. aquatic life, bird or other wildlife habitat; " as laid out in section 16B of  the town shoreland ordinance.

 

Rockland has two new Harbor Commission Members  David Leon & Judith Lawson environmental activist, sailor and journalist.

Searsport Maine dredging team meeting to meet March 16, 2017, from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. at the Maine Department of Transportation’s headquarters in Augusta.   A meeting agenda and call-in number will be distributed prior to the meeting.

Last Month we looked  at  MDOT's Searsport dredging and oil port expansion update  from MDOTs workplan for 2018/19  (Complete Searsport 2018-2019 workplan ) Two that stand out  1. Liquid dock expansion at Mack Pt. $6,400,000 and 2. Dredging "commercial channel of Searsport" 3,000,000.

BACKSTORY

Precedent for coastal scenic protection

Maine DEP denial of Samoset marina plan along Rockland Breakwater  

"The Department finds that the proposed project will result in an unreasonable interference with existing scenic, aesthetic, and recreational uses of the area."