Sears Island, An Historic Compromise
by Senator Dennis S. Damon

For decades since the Maine Department of Transportation purchased Sears Island the fate and ultimate use of the island has been in flux. Some have argued that the island should be left undeveloped, some have wanted it to become a part of Maine’s “Three Port” strategy and some have wanted it to be both.

In recent years there have been no fewer than three separate task forces working to decide the fate of Sears Island. Two and a half years ago the Sears Island Planning Initiative Steering Committee (SIPISC) concluded the island should be divided into two segments with one segment being reserved for uses including conservation, education and recreation and the remaining segment being reserved for port development. SIPISC’s Consensus Agreement was handed over to the latest group charged with the task of reaching some satisfactory agreement on Sears Island. That group, called the Joint Use Planning Committee (JUPC), consisted of a broad cross-section of members ranging from conservationists and environmentalists to transportation people, legislators and town officials from Searsport and Stockton Springs. On November 18 they presented their final plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Transpor- tation, which I co-chair.

The Joint Use Plan called for the island to be divided into two sections. One section, 601 acres in size, would be preserved in perpetuity to be used for conservation, education and recreation purposes. The other section, 330 acres in size, would be reserved for transportation uses, specifically seaport development which would support primarily containerized freight. Marine shipping of container freight is the world’s primary way to move goods now and it is projected to grow exponentially in the future.

The Plan called for the larger section to be governed by a conservation easement which was meticulously negotiated. The easement is to be held by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, a well known and respected land trust organization dedicated to the preservation of much of our coastal land. The easement is very specific about what may and may not be built on that portion of the island, and about continuing public access to trails and the natural beauty that is Sears Island.

The Plan is equally specific about the smaller section of the island. Specifically, it addresses what will not be allowed including nuclear power plants, coal fired power or industrial plants, casinos or incinerators to name a few prohibited uses.

The Transportation Committee voted unanimously on November 18th to accept the Joint Use Plan, including the conservation easement, but to delay signing it until a port is permitted on Sears Island. In essence, the deadlock that has plagued Sears Island for decades was finally broken. The brokered agreement guaranteeing the shared and joint use of Sears Island was accepted. The Transportation Committee recognized the objections by some to allow a port on Sears Island. Sen. Savage of Knox offered a motion that accepted the Plan and assured its stated intention of having both a port and a significant conserved recreation area.

It was truly an historic day when the people of Maine received 600 acres of undeveloped land, including roughly three miles of prime coast line, which will be saved from development forever, and at the same time we delivered the go ahead to permit a port that by all knowledgeable accounts will be integral to the global transportation network. When a port is permitted and built on the island Maine will become a key part of that global highway and that will be a huge benefit to our current businesses as well as an incentive for other businesses to locate in Maine. In short, the joint use of Sears Island will be a substantial contributor to our economic future.

There are many to thank when it comes to recognizing this accomplishment. The past administrations and task forces who have struggled with this issue, those in the conservation and environmental community who have worked to ensure there was responsibility exhibited in this decision, the business community who has seen the potential here, the Towns of Searsport and Stockton Springs who likewise recognize the benefits of joint use, Governor Baldacci’s office and team including the Department of Transportation and the Joint Standing Committee on Transpor-tation of the legislature have all worked through some very difficult moments to arrive at, “An Historic Compromise for Sears Island…An Historic Day for Maine.”

I can be reached at 667-9629, 256 Oak Point Road, Trenton 04605 or dsdamon@panax.com