Criticism greets latest LNG plan
Portland Press Herald
Sunday, September 5, 2004

By DENNIS HOEY, Portland Press Herald Writer

GOULDSBORO From the pinnacle of Schoodic Head, a 440-foot peak on Acadia National Park's Schoodic Peninsula, Ken Olson doesn't need binoculars to see the location proposed for a liquefied natural gas terminal. Pittsfield-based Cianbro Corp. has selected a development site on Prospect Harbor, just five miles from the national park boundary.

"Of all the places to site an LNG facility on the coast of Maine, it seems out of character to put an industrial facility within the (potential future) boundaries of a national park and within the realm of a national wildlife refuge," said Olson, president of the 3,000-member, nonprofit organization Friends of Acadia.

Last week, Pete Vigue, president and chief executive officer of Cianbro, announced plans to pursue development of an LNG terminal on Navy-owned land in Corea - a Gouldsboro fishing village.

Vigue said he views an LNG terminal as more than just another construction project. Maine's high energy costs are an obstacle to attracting businesses, and an increased gas supply could help lower prices. He said Cianbro can build a project that won't pose an undue threat to the environment.

LNG would be delivered to Gouldsboro by tanker before being conveyed by a spur pipeline to the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, which carries natural gas from Nova Scotia to markets in Maine and the Northeast.

Hours after Cianbro's announcement, criticism arose.

Not only would the terminal be within sight of Schoodic Peninsula, Olson said, but the $300 million facility would fall within the purchase boundaries of Acadia National Park. The park's purchase boundaries establish limits on where the park service can acquire land or conservation easements, Olson said.

Schoodic Peninsula is a spectacular 2,300-acre park property marked by tidal pools, crashing waves and tall pine trees.

Fewer visitors come to this section of the park because of its remote location, facing Bar Harbor on the eastern side of Frenchman's Bay. It takes about an hour's drive to reach Schoodic from the park visitor center on Mount Desert Island.

'NAVY IN CONTROL'

The environmentally sensitive Corea Heath would be next to the LNG facility. About 20 miles offshore sits Petit Manan Island, a major seabird restoration site owned by the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge.

The Navy property includes two distinct sections - a 50-acre parcel with abandoned buildings and a 400-acre heath that is home to seabirds and nesting sites. Both parcels overlook Prospect Harbor.

Those lands became available in 2002 after the Navy abandoned a surveillance base it operated there.

Two years ago, Gouldsboro voters rejected the Navy's offer to transfer the 50-acre parcel to the town. Negotiations with the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge that would place the Corea Heath in conservation status are ongoing.

An aquaculture business also has expressed interest in taking control of the 50-acre site.

"The Navy is in control now," refuge manager Charlie Blair said. "They told us the 400 acres would be coming to Petit Manan."

Town Manager Brad Vassey said Cianbro officials are planning to make a presentation to the town selectmen at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Community House, next to the town office.

Vassey said he is willing to listen to Cianbro's proposal but added that the local reaction thus far has been negative.

"Most people don't view this an (economic development) opportunity," Vassey said. "I think Cianbro is sensitive to the interests of this community and in particular to the fishing industry's interests. They will listen and then act accordingly."

Vigue said 600 construction workers would be hired to build the terminal, which could offer up to 100 year-round positions.

In Harpswell, the Fairwinds project offered 50 year-round positions and up to 800 construction jobs. Harpswell, in exchange for leasing the land, would have received about $8 million a year in annual lease fees and property taxes. But voters there rejected the proposal.

NEGATIVE REACTION

The abruptness of Cianbro's announcement last week caught this Down East fishing community off guard.

Residents hastily arranged a meeting Friday afternoon at the Oceanside Meadows Inn in Corea. About 80 people showed up. Nearly everyone in the room was opposed to the facility.

"This is the most asinine thing that has come down the pike on the coast of Maine," said Colby Young, Corea's harbormaster. "The fishing industry as we know it today will be totally devastated."

Nancy Horschak, who moderated the impromptu gathering, encouraged residents and especially fishermen to attend Thursday's meeting.

"Fishing isn't just a livelihood around here. It's a way of life," she said.

At fishing docks around Gouldsboro, the reaction was the same.

Bruce Crowley, who has been fishing the waters off Corea for 41 years, was loading herring onto his lobster boat, the Cindy Lee, Friday afternoon at the Corea Lobster Co-op.

"The fishermen are dead set against this," Crowley said. "What most people don't realize is the amount of gear that would be cut by these tankers."

Meanwhile, David Myrick was talking about the proposal Friday with other fishermen at the Prospect Harbor Trading Co. wharf. Myrick, a lobsterman, said the harbor is dangerous to navigate - there are two ledges at its mouth - and there are hundreds if not thousands of buoys there.

"To us it would be crazy to bring a tanker in here. There's not a fisherman in town who wants it," Myrick said.

"This is a fishing community. The biggest industry we have is Stinson's (a seafood canning company). We don't want an LNG terminal," said Michael Hunt, a Corea fisherman.

Bill Osgood, the owner of a local restaurant, said natural gas doesn't benefit anyone locally because it is shipped to urban areas.

"There is no benefit to us. The only one who will benefit is Cianbro," Osgood said.

Navy retiree Tom Lutes, 75, was preparing his recreational vehicle Friday for its annual winter trip to Arizona. Lutes said it would be nice if the town could reduce his $1,800 property tax bill, but he said the decision on whether to host an LNG terminal should be left up to the fishermen.

"Corea is one of the few fishing villages left in the state. It's their livelihood that's on the line. They should have the final say," Lutes said.

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 725-8795 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com