http://www.wqdy.fm/archive/2006_01_29_index.html#113880687042633908

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Eastport City Manager Says Split Rock LNG Site Is Unacceptable, City Council Tables Discussion

Following an hour or so of discussion, the Eastport City Council tabled discussion on LNG. The discussion followed a presentation by the anti-LNG group Save Passamaquoddy Bay (SPB) who had asked to be put on the agenda.

LNG proponent David Turner of Perry was in the audience but did not speak during the presentation and subsequent discussion.

After SPB coordinator Linda Godfrey made the presentation, she said, "it is time for Eastport to decide what it's going to do."

Godfrey outlined how all three proposed LNG projects would affect Eastport because of the route tankers would be transiting to reach their respective LNG sites.

She pointed out that the Quoddy Bay proposal for Split Rock would especially impact Eastport because of its location off Route 190, the only road in and out of the easternmost city.

Route 190 is a state road that runs from U.S. Route 1 in Perry through the Pleasant Point Reservation and into downtown Eastport.

Eastport City Manager George "Bud" Finch responded from a lengthy prepared statement.

Prefacing his remarks, Finch said, "these are not the beliefs of the council, they're my beliefs."

"I believe the City has no choice but to oppose the current Quoddy Bay proposal at Split Rock for many reasons, but specifically because of the site. This is not a NIMBY, Not In My Backyard issue, it's a NIMFY, Not In My Front Yard Issue," Finch said. "This does not mean we don't support Pleasant Point and Perry in their pursuit of LNG, it means that we oppose the current site and urge them to choose another."

"The site would require many significant infrastructural changes to meet the access and egress needs for the people of Eastport," Finch said. "The location chosen is a poor choice for many social and economical reasons which for the most part are pretty self-explanatory. Again, this is not an issue against Pleasant Point, it's not an issue against Perry, and I'm specifically talking sites, not transportation."

Finch said with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) process, "the City will need to be prepared to file for intervenor status. At that time I expect, we'll need to make connections with legal firms that deal with FERC issues to represent us in the process. Again, this is not a pro and con stance, this is insuring that regardless of the outcome, the best interests of the citizens of Eastport have been fully undertaken."

Finch aimed some comments at state government.

"If the Maine coast is where LNG needs to be situated, then the State of Maine has to be part of the process. And supportive of a process is not solely allowing the site to be in the poorest of neighborhoods that can least afford to protect their own interests."

Finch mentioned the Sears Island as an example. "It's owned by the State. It was to be the home of a super cargo port. There's a pipeline right-of-way to Loring, a place where the need of natural gas currently exists. Tanks fit in the center of the island out of sight and out of danger. The site is closer to the customer, so if the State of Maine is truly interested in siting LNG for the needs of the customer and FERC, then they have to be doing more than just saying, well, we'll see what each town feels or don't based on their ability to fund for or against it."

The city manager continued, "if Dana Connors and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce think LNG is so important to the State of Maine, they should be supportive of seriously looking Casco bay as well as Sears Island. After all, if we are truly interested in meeting the needs of the masses, then we need to be serious about choosing the right location."

"That doesn't mean you don't choose this bay but it has to be a fair and balanced analysis, not just a case of we get it because nobody else wants it. It shouldn't be rejected just because some people don't want it for that sole purpose," Finch said.

Eastport city councilors batted the issue around for while in discussion that mentioned a vote to see what residents think and there was the concern over the Split Rock site and the impact on the only road in and out of Eastport.

After those comments, Finch added, "we're not telling Quoddy Bay LNG that they're not welcomed in Passamaquoddy Bay, we're telling them we find that site (Split Rock) unacceptable. We're telling the State, we find that site unacceptable, and we're telling the Federal government, we find that site unacceptable. That doesn't mean that somebody can't come back and prove to you all the reasons why it's an acceptable site."

The Eastport City Council took no action, opting instead to table discussion until a later date.

- Tom McLaughlin, WQDY-WALZ News Director