Problems associated with Developing a Liquefied Natural Gas storage / transfer facility in Sears Island (a list in progress):

• Ron Huber of Penobscot Bay Watch reports that the combination of lost fishing time (due to rolling security zones around tankers) and lost gear from tanker traffic would lead to a 15% reduction in the lobster catch in Penobscot Bay. This would result in millions of dollars in lost fishing revenue for Monhegan and  west Penobscot Bay fishermen from Port Clyde  to Searsport. 
• Astrig Tanguay of Friends of Sears Island warns that the industrialization of Sears Island and the inconveniences caused to recreational boaters (caused by the rolling security zones surrounding LNG tankers) will result in a pronounced decline in tourism in the midcoast area.
• While LNG facilities in the U.S. have a good safety record so far, the potential of catastrophic event exists, as liquefied natural gas is a highly explosive material, and if an explosion did occur, it would destroy lives and property within a 2 - 4 mile radius.
• LNG tankers and facilities are ranked as one of the top three terrorist targets in the U.S. The presence of tankers and a facility would make us a top three target.
• Environmental impact to the harbor adjacent to Sears Island. The National Marine Fisheries Service regards the waters surrounding Sears Island as "diverse and highly productive marine habitats," noting that the intertidal area is a mix of "soft substrate, mussel beds, cobble, macroalgae, and tide pools" that are essential to American lobster, hermit crabs, sand shrimp, jonah crabs, horseshoe crabs, pollack, Atlantic mackerel, menhaden, and winter flounder populations as well as other fish and shellfish species.
• The island is presently used by many for a wide variety of recreational purposes included fishing, shellfishing, hunting, walking, bicycling, beachcombing, and boating. The presence of an LNG facility would lead much of this activity to be restricted or curtailed.
  
  
  

The last few times the state of Maine came up with a plan for Sears Island, this is what we got:

• a causeway without cause: although it does permit pedestrian access to the island, it has had negative effects such as increased sand deposition in Stockton Harbor, resulting in the loss of valuable clam flats.
• a million dollar road to nowhere that is now gated off, prohibiting vehicle traffic.
• a jetty that doesn't jet: partially built, it has never been used.
• acres of wetlands that were filled in and then dug back out. Note: the wetland restoration effort has been a failure. Note to taxpayers: Even though it was the state's mistake, we are the ones who paid for it -- both the digging out ($?) and the filling back in ($800,000.00 worth). More at the EPA website.
• a soured relationship between the Maine Dept. of Transportation and the people of the Searsport area who have long used the island for recreation. At one point, overzealous DOT workers posted signs prohibiting all recreational use of the island. In the face of vibrant public outcry, the state backtracked, saying the No trespassing signs were "a mistake."