Sears Island Concerns

Harlan McLaughlin’s June 2 OpEd, “Write to stop Sears Island development,” attributes policy positions to the Sierra Club and others that are simply untrue. Some of the statements about the Sierra Club and others working with the governor’s office on Sears Island planning are false, damaging and malicious.

Mr. McLaughlin writes that the Sierra Club “supports a proposal that … removes its right to oppose the port when it comes” and that the Sierra Club has agreed “to the appropriateness and inevitability of a port on Sears Island.”

While Mr. McLaughlin is entitled to his opinion about the efficacy of the governor’s Sears Island planning process, these attacks on the Sierra Club’s reputation as an environmental advocate are unconscionable. What Sierra Club and other environmental advocates have agreed to is the protection of 600 Sears Island acres for public recreation, conservation and education.

In addition, the Sierra Club and others, including Maine Department of Transportation, have agreed there should never, ever be an LNG facility or any of a long list of other inappropriate possible developments on Sears Island.

Regarding a potential container port, Sierra Club and others agreed that “none of the parties are endorsing in advance any proposal for a marine transportation facility.” The proposal for a Sears Island cargo port in the ’80s and ’90s was found by federal agencies to pose a substantial threat to the ecology of the area. At present, there is no proposal for a container port or for any marine transportation facility on Sears Island.

The Maine Sierra Club’s environmental credentials are long, well- known and impeccable. One can only guess at Mr. McLaughlin’s environmental record. Many of us are looking forward with genuine excitement to the job of improving and expanding public access to Sears Island, the jewel of Penobscot Bay.

Stephen Miller

Islesboro

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