GAC video/1998_waste_coast_examined.mp4
GAC_073013_toxictour_clammers_1min40sec.mp4
GAC video mummichogs_062914_stocktonhbr.mp4
Conservation of Maine's Biggest Bay, 2004 - Present. Use search bar or archives list on right
Maine Foisherman's Forum 2024
Wind Seminar Presentations
Maine Offshore Wind Research Consortium
DMR’s Seafloor Mapping in the Gulf of Maine
Informing Responsible Offshore Wind Development in the Gulf of Maine
Exploring Approaches to Fisheries Coexistence with Offshore Wind
Offshore Wind Transmission Framework
Introduction to Floating Offshore Wind Technology
Understanding Mooring and Anchoring
Federal Fisheries
The below links are to galleries of newspaper articles by decade that consider the changing uses of what was then called Kidder's Point area of southwest Stockton Harbor. (now "Kidder Point")
By MEMBER OF THE MAINE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AUGUSTA
SPRAGUE OWEN & NASH, PRINTERS 1873.
===========
Excerpts on Mammals Birds and Fishes of Waldo County including its tidal waters.
GAME & FISH,
"In Waldo county, which is upon the seaboard, not much game is found. Ruflied grouse inhabit every grove of any size, but are exceedingly shy. Hares abound in our swamps to some extent. Snipe are occasionally met.with, but woodcock are about extinct. _
Fur bearing animals are found to some extent; the fox, mink, raccoon, and skunk, are the chief. Originally they were abundant, and in days of early settlements, or forty to sixty years ago, they were to be met with at almost every step.
Fish are scarce. Brook trout, the prince of fish, between persistent fishing and dams across all brooks of size, and water polluted with sawdust from mills, have nearly all disappeared. Some varieties of inferior fish are yet quite plentiful.
Along shore, springs and antumns, good shooting may be had for ducks and geese which here pause on their migrations.
Good opportunities for fish culture are found in every town, but as yet we have no one who has engaged in that business.
Marine Fishes
Smelt and tomcods are very plentiful in the bay and river in Spring.
==========================================
(88)
Later in the season the bay affords cod, haddock, hake, mackerel,and pogies; the latter caught mainly for their oil, which is expressed, after they are boiled in large boilers, under powerful screws. The residue left, known as “pogie chum," is a powerful fertilizer, and commands a good price.
Lobsters, that once abounded along the seacoast of the county,have been pursued to such an extent, that they are scarce and small, and command a high price.
The early settlers were familiar with the black bear, the deer, moose, wild cat, sable, and other animals now virtually extinct in the county.
The streams then swarmed with “speckled beauties,” and a tramp of half an hour beside almost any inland water would secure such a string as we never see now.
Our waters can be restocked - should be - and cared for that they are properly fed and protected. They may thus be made the means of supplying much delicious food, and from a source now barren.
Herring are largely caught in weirs and prepared by pickling and smoking, for the market. Salmon are caught in weirs to some extent. Belfast annually sends out quite a fleet of fishing vessels, some to the banks, and some along the coast.
A little attention to trout breeding, fishways to allow shad and alewives to ascend our larger streams, and protection of fish preserves, would in a few years add vastly to the food producing capacity of our inland waters.
It is a subject well worth the attention of our leading citizens, and we hope ere long that fish culture may be inaugurated and our streams and ponds be restocked with edible fish.
The song birds are the same as those of other sections of the State. They deserve protection and encouragement, for they are our safeguards againt insect depredations."
The following list embraces most of the wild animals now found in the county :
Latin names include typos & misspellings
Mammals
Raccoon
Skunk (Pole cat) . . . . . . . . . . .. .Mephitis mephitica.
Woodchuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .Arctomys menus.
Grey Squirrel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .Sciums migrations.
Red Squirrel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sciurus Hudeonius.
Flying Squirrel“ . . . . . . . . . .. .Pteromys colucella.
Striped (Chipmunk). . . . . . . Tamias striatus.
Musk Rat (Musquash) . . . . . .. . Fiber zibethicus.
Common Rat.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mus. dccumcnus.
==================================================
(39)
Field Mouse . . . . .. ..Hesperonmys myoides.
Woods Mouse (Deer Mouse} . .Jaeuh:s Hudsonius.
House Mouse . . . . . .. . . . . mus. museums.
Meadow Hog (Black Mole)... . Uondylura crrlstatcc.
Common Mole . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Blov'€-rm mlpoidies.
Mink (Martin) . . . . . . . . . . . . Pwaleflus migrescens.
Weasel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..mustella cicognanii.
Rabbit (Hare). . . . . . . . . . . .Lepus Anericanus.
Hedge Hog (Porcupine) . . ...Ere£h?Izon dorsatns.
Fox (Red and Grey) . . . . . .. . Vulpeafuluu-.s and ergenmlus.
Otter (very rare) . . . . . . . . .. . L1-sire Uanwdensfe.
Fisher fib.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Jfustellm Pennamflii.
Loupcervier (ib.) . . . . . . . . . . .
Lynx:,,,,, Genadensia.
------------------------------------
The principal fresh water fish are as follows:
Trout. . . . . . . . . . . . . Salmo frontinalis.
Chub . . . . . . . . . . Leueoeomus America-nus.
Shiner . .. . . . Ghirastarrzo notalum.
Red-fin . . . . . . . . . . .. .Plary-yrus carrmtus.
Sucker.. . . . . . . . . . . ... Oataslomus Bostoniensis.
Eel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .Anguilla Bostoniensus.
Pickerel . . . . . . . . . .. . . . Esozc reticutatus.
White Perch. . . . . . . . . ..Morone Americana.
Yellow Perch . . . . . . . . . . .
Horned Pout . . . . . . . . . . .Amiurus palms.
Roach . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . Focus lineatus.
Smelts . . . . . . . . . Osmerus mordax.
Pumpkin Seed . . . . .Pomo£1Ie appendix.
===============================================
Some of the more common birds of Waldo county:
Raptors
White Headed Eagle.
Night Hawk.
Fish Hawk, (0sprey.)
Pigeon Hawk
Sparrow Hawk.
Great Horned Owl.
Brown Owl.
Saw-whet Owl.
Great Footed Hawk.
======================
Shorebirds
Ash-colored Sandpiper.
Little Sandpiper.
Spotted Sandpiper.
Wood Duck.
Great Shearwater.
Loon.
Herring Gull.
American Gull.
------------------------------------
Woodpeckers
Golden-winged Woodpecker.
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker.
Three-toed Woodpecker.
Downy Woodpecker.
----------------------------------
Songbirds
Yellow-ramped Warbler.,
Canada Fly-catcher.
Winter Wren.
Gold Crowned Wren.
Ruby Wren.
Bluebird.
Brown Creeper.
Robin.
Black-and-White Creeper.
Redstarls.
Cedar bird.
Pewee.
CatBird.
================================================
Phebe bird.
Great Crested Fly-catcher.
Kingbird.
Kingfisher.
-------------------------------------------
Swallows
Chimney Swallow.
Barn Swallow.
Bank Swallow.
Martin.
---------------------------------
Humming bird.
-------------------------------
‘Water Thrush.
Olive-Backed Thrush.
----------------------------------
Wiild Pigeon.
Ruffecl Grouse.
Crane.
Kildeer Plover.
(90)
Piping Plover.
White-bellied Nuthatch.
Yellowbird.
Bobolink.
-------------------------------
Blackbird.
Crow.
Bluejay.
White-throated Sparrow
Ghipbird. (?)
Swamp Sparrow.
Black billed Cuckoo
===================
End excerpts
GAC Chemical video and image links by Year 1998 - 2024
1998
Video 1998
MP4s
GAC_1998%20coast.mp4GAC_1998_waste_coast_examined.mp4
GAC_1998/gac_1998_cleanup_1.mpg
GAC_1998_waste_coast_examined.mp4
AVIs
GAC 1998_a_022098_waste_erosion_b_040798_cleanup.avi (700mb)
GAC_vid_1998 2 parts: _A_022098_waste_erosion_B_040798_cleanup (AVI)
Images 1998
JPEGS
GAC 1998_acidplant_superphosphate_plant.jpg
GAC_1998_cleanup_republican journal_070198_mcarpenter.jpg
GAC_1998_derelict_acid_plant_tank_from_flats.jpg
GAC_1998_filled_shore_below_factory_elevated_pipeline
gac_1998_flats_alumwastes_under_red_surface_layer
GAC 1998_flats_tarpaper_from_superphosphate_plant.
GAC 1998_flats_wastes_flocculants
GAC 1998 superphophate plant (derelict)_
GAC 1998 superphosphate_plant. closed 1998.jpg
GAC 1998_superphosphate_plant_elevated_pipeline
gac_1998_acidplant_superphosphate_plant.jpg
gac_1998_cleanup_repjournal 070198_murray_carpenter.jpg
1998_video_stills/gac_1998_derelict_acid_plant_tank_from_flats.jpg
1998_video_stills/gac_1998_filled_shore_below_factory_elevated_pipeline.jpg
1998_video_stills/gac_1998_flats_alumwastes_under%20_red_surface_layer.jpg
gac_1998_flats_tarpaper_from_superphosphate_plant.jpg
gac_1998_flats_wastes_flocculants.jpg
gac_1998_superphosphate_plant.jpg
gac_1998_superphosphate_plant_elevated_pipeline.jpg
https://www.penbay.org/baytowns/searsport/gac_1998
https://www.penbay.org/av/gac_1998
February
March
gac_dep_031798_deltachem_phtest_060684.jpg
DEP Notice of Violation
gac_032798_dep_nova/gac_nova_dep_032798a.html
gac_nova_dep_032798a_small.jpg
gac_nova_dep_032898b_small.jpg
gac_nova_resp_042098_pg1_small.jpg
gac_nova_resp_042098_pg2_small.jpg
gac_nova_resp_041998_pg3_small.jpg
gac_nova resp 042098_reply to MDEP re NOVA
PenBay Archive/CWP_1995 1998_GAC_oil
northern_chemical 1998_ Quonset fertilizer plant
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JPEGs
1999
1999_111599_epa_devillars_leaves_legacy.jpg
2000
2001
* gac_2015_vrap_012215_no_action_assurance.pdf
2002
Kidder Point 2002 derelict fertilizer plant.jpg
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2013
2014
2015
gac_2015_town_letter_vrap_022615.pdf
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
"[C]ue-driven threshold cooperation may be a viable evolutionary strategy for microbes that cannot keep track of past behavior of their potential cooperating partners, in spatially viscous and in well-mixed environments alike.
2019 Behavioral heterogeneity in quorum sensing can stabilize social cooperation in microbial populations
Excerpts
" Microbial communities are susceptible to the public goods dilemma.
* Bacteria establish a cooperative system (quorum sensing) in a population, by coordinating their production of costly and shareable extracellular products ('public goods' in that microsociety. Be it a microfilm on an eelgrass stem)
Emails between Ron Huber and MDEP August 20, 2013 to September 3, 2013
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: Ron Huber [mailto:coastwatch@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 11:54 AM
To: Wright, David W
Subject: GAC pollution complaint map of sites of concern
Dear Mr, Wright
Here attached FYI is an aerial photo with captions that shows the locations of concern to Friends of Penobscot Bay along the south side of Kidder Point. This aerial photo can also be seen online. Click Here
We found lowest pH ( 2 or less) at sites B, D and G
One can also note the flow patterns of wastes from land through the intertidal and out toward the subtidal harbor .
See also landbased photos of tainted areas of concern click here
Please let us know when DEP plans to visit as we'd like to be there as well, to quietly observe.
Best wishes,
Ron
--
Ron Huber
Friends of Penobscot Bay
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 4:42 PM, Wright, David W <David.W.Wright@maine.gov> wrote:
Ron, we have assigned Wilkes Harper from my Division to investigate this complaint.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: Ron Huber [mailto:coastwatch@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 6:00 PM
To: Wright, David W
Cc: Harper, Wilkes B; Harlan McLaughlin
Subject: Re: GAC pollution complaint map of sites of concern
Thank you, David!
Mr. Wilkes, I see via the internet you have a good deal of experience with this sort of legacy waste site investigation. We look forward to learning of the variety of wastes that have been deposited along the shore over time - to find out what is innocuous and what needs remediation.
Apart from the pictures and historic info we've sent along, what other info would be helpful? Let us know when you will be visiting the site; we'd like to tag along so we can point out several slumping erosion sites of interest, from the vantage point of the intertidal below the bluff. Some of these are ordinarily only visible after leaf fall.
GAC Chemical has been a good corporate neighbor under David Colter's leadership. He has been responsive to the concept of trimming back, capping and revegetating the slumping bluffs of that cove alongside the point - if not the actual execution.
Achieving that would be a huge accomplishment for the bay. If, in addition to capping those acidic tailings, there is a need for remediation beyond that (i.e.if the abandoned factory & tank turn out to have acid or other materials leaching from them in significant quantities and need demolition, or excavation of tainted soils, or of certain areas of the intertidal mud, should that be warranted We believe they will be cooperative on that too.
We look forward to meeting you at the GAC Chemical site. Please contact me at your earliest convenience by email or by phone 691-7485 Day or cellphone 593-2744
Sincerely
Ron
Ron Huber, executive director
Friends of Penobscot Bay
cc Harlan McLaughlin, President of FOPB
============================
From: Harper, Wilkes B
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2013 12:40 PM
To: 'Ron Huber'
Cc: Harlan McLaughlin; Knuuti, Karen
Subject: RE: GAC pollution complaint map of sites of concern
Hi Ron,
I have been asked, along with Karen Knuuti of our Bangor Office, to perform a preliminary environmental assessment of the GAC Chemical property in Searsport based upon your concerns. The purpose of our assessment is to determine which Unit within the Maine Department of Environmental Protection would be the most appropriate for addressing those concerns.
Karen and I have made arrangements to visit this property on Wed. September 4th. We have also reserved the following Friday, September 6th, in case stormy weather jeopardizes our site visit on the 4th.
We anticipate arriving at the GAC property around at 10AM. We would be pleased to have you join us.
In the meantime, if you have any questions do not hesitate to call me. Please realize that my schedule has me away from my desk and out of the office frequently so I apologize up front if there is a slight delay in responding.
Thanks!
Wilkes
Wilkes B. Harper, Brownfields/VRAP Project Manager
BRWM-DR-SASS
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
State House Station 17, Augusta, Maine 04333
(207) 287-4856 office / (207) 592-1192 cell
===============================================
From: Harper, Wilkes B
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2013 11:51 AM
To: 'Ron Huber'
Cc: 'Harlan McLaughlin'; Knuuti, Karen
Subject: RE: GAC pollution complaint map of sites of concern
Hi Ron,
Karen Knuuti of the Department’s Bangor Office has just advised me that GAC Chemical has requested that the date of the site inspection be changed to the following week. Karen and I are both available on Tuesday, Sept. 10th. To take advantage of the tides we are planning on arriving at the property at 10 AM.
I wanted you to know the new date and time.
Wilkes
Wilkes B. Harper, Brownfields/VRAP Project Manager
BRWM-DR-SASS
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
State House Station 17, Augusta, Maine 04333
(207) 287-4856 office / (207) 592-1192 cell
On Thu, Aug 29, 2013 at 4:58 PM, Hodgkins, Nick <Nick.Hodgkins@maine.gov> wrote:
Mr. Huber,
As you are aware, the Department is proceeding with the evaluation of the potential environmental issues that you have identified at the GAC facility in Searsport. To that end, Karen Knuuti from the Division of Solid Waste and Wilkes Harper from the Division of Remediation will be conducting a joint inspection on September 10th to assess these potential impacts and determine if further actions by the Department are necessary, and if so, which regulatory program is most applicable. The Department requested and received approval from the property owner (GAC) to conduct this visit.
I am sending you this e-mail to clarify any previous, inadvertent miscommunication from Department staff. The Department does not have the authority to allow you to join us during our visit and assessment of the potential issues at the property. If you wish to visit the site, you will need to obtain permission to do so from the current property owner, GAC.
Please feel free to contact me should you have further questions or concerns.
Nick
Nicholas J. Hodgkins
Oil & Hazardous Materials Specialist in the Bureau of Remediation & Waste Management
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
(207) 287-4854 (desk) (207) 592-0882 (cell)
nick.hodgkins@maine.gov
================================================
From: Ron Huber [mailto:coastwatch@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2013 3:45 PM
To: Hodgkins, Nick
Subject: Re: GAC Site Visit by DEP. Is VRAP data available Tuesday.
Dear Mr. Hodgkins
I will be in Augusta Tuesday and would like to stop in at DEP in the afternoon for a quick look at or discussion of the VRAP files of GAC Chemical. Very short notice, I'm afraid! Is this possible?
Also, are there examples of other sites in Maine with a history of 20th century fertilizer production and/or sulfuric acid production that DEP is aware of or has required remediation of?
Re GAC VRAP: We don't know specifically where the remediation site identified as REM 01170 is located on the GAC property, but are very interested in using that remediation action history to add to our understanding of Kidder Point wastes and their past and potential future remediation.
Best wishes
Ron Huber
==================================================
RE: GAC Site Visit by DEP. Is VRAP data available Tuesday.
Hodgkins, Nick <Nick.Hodgkins@maine.gov>Nick
Nicholas J. Hodgkins
Oil & Hazardous Materials Specialist in the Bureau of Remediation & Waste Management
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
(207) 287-4854 (desk) (207) 592-0882 (cell)
nick.hodgkins@maine.gov
A step by step systematic analysis of Gulf of Maine currents and their interconnections, including potential wind farm impacts.
I. THE MAINE COASTAL CURRENT SYSTEM:
1. Eastern Maine Coastal Current (EMCC)Summary Early Paleozoic amalgamation of composite terranes was contemporaneous at widely separated regions that were later accreted to either ancestral North America or to Gondwana as those two continents approached each other.
Terranes closer to Laurentia amalgamated in the Late Cambrian to Middle Ordovician Penobscottian orogeny and were accreted to ancestral North America in the Middle and to Late Orodovician Taconic orogeny.
Peri Gondwanan terranes formed from Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician rocks were amalgamated in the Late Ordovician and Early Silurian to form the Salinic orogenic belt, now exposed from western Europe to southem New England.
Salinic orogenic activity involved extensive thrust faulting and metamorphism, large strike-slip faults, and plutonism, all of which are represented in coastal Maine.
In the Penobscot Bay region, Maine, the peri-Gondwanan St. Croix terrane was thrust northwest in the Silurian(?) upon middle amphibolite facies Ordovician and Early Silurian rocks of the Fredericton trough. Seismic reflection profiles show that the thrust fault dips southeasterly at -30° and becomes listric at about 13 1 2 km.
The thrust sheet was broken initially by the Late Silurian Penobscot Bay-Smith Cove-North Blue Hill dextral strike-slip fault which juxtaposed the peri-Gondwanan Ellsworth terrane, followed by emplacement of the South Penobscot Intrusive Suite and by a sequence of strike-slip fault Zones each with up to 20 km of dextral Silurian and Early Devonian(’I) movement.
The strike-slip faults are interpreted to either remain steep until they reach the sole of the thrust sheet or to become listric within the thrust sheet.
In the Devonian Acadian orogeny, more outboard terranea with Gondwanan aflinitics, like the Avalonian terranes in southem New Brunswick and in eastem Massachusetts, were amalgamated with the Silurian orogenic belt, and the resulting composite terrane was accreted to ancestral North America. Acadian deformation, metamorphism, and plutonism are superimposed on the Silurian orogen, blurring or obliterating the evidence of Silurian orogeny.
End abstract
Executive Summary
During the course of geologic studies for Central Maine Power Company’s proposed nuclear
Leonie Bossert, Tom Crompton, Anwesha Dutta, Joni Seager
Biodiversity, Volume 3, Article 38, 12 December 2024