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Dec 14, 2017

Owls Head waters getting federalized. Listen to 12/12/17 meeting on federal anchorage proposal.

Are Owls Head's outer waters getting Federalised?
Listen to a 14 minute discussion, (mp3)  at the 12/12/17 Rockland Harbor Mgmt Commission meeting, on a plan to designate a federal anchorage area off Owls Head, to facilitate cruise ships bringing passengers to Rockland Harbor
Rockland Harbor civic boundaries, Rockport, Rockland & Owls Head

 Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Association has asked the US Coast Guard to designate the waters of Owls Head's Broad Cove as  a Federal Anchorage Area,  specifically to facilitate projected increases in visits to Rockland Harbor  by large cruise ships. Read  July 6, 2017 submission to USCG by David Gelinas  president of Penobscot Bay & River Pilots

On December 12, 2017 the Rockland Harbor Management Commission had a  discussion of  the Federal Anchorage proposal. LISTEN TO THE 14 MINUTE DISCUSSION (mp3)

Gelinas, a veteran ships pilot, told the Coasties that rising cruise ship traffic  to Penobscot bay calls for  more methodical  management of anchorage use by oversized cruise ships  at the mouth of Rockland Harbor. much of which is within the town borders of Owls Head.

"Not only are the numbers of cruise ships on the increase," Gelinas wrote "but the average size of such vessels is on the increase as well. Having a larger, dedicated anchorage area will assist in keeping this traffic coming to our state, and will serve all mariners with a clear illustration of where such vessels will likely anchor when coming to Penobscot Bay."



Dec 12, 2017

Rockland Harbor Commission considers plans to realign, privatize portions of its inner harbor. AUDIO MP3s

Listen below to the city's December 12, 2017 meeting of its Harbor Commission.

Topics: Landmark Corp's presentation on (1) planned finger pier in-filling of  part of`city's Inner Harbor by Yachting Solutions (2)  Reshaping city mooring field. (3) Installing a lengthy wooden wave attenuators -serious scenic public view blockers?

AUDIO MP3s
Introduction of meeting attendees 2min12 sec 
Attendees List  at  end of recordings below. 
PART 1.


PART 2 DISCUSSIONS
Full 57 minutes  of part 2

MEETING ATTENDEES 
1. HMC members: Louise Maclellan Ruf,(chair) Melissa Maker, Matthew Ondra, Richard Whitman, David A. Leon. Tom Peaco HMC alternate,(also head of Pen Bay Chamber of Commerce).

2. ROCKLAND GOVT 
Harbormaster Matt Ripley,   
Assistant Harbormaster Mark Tibbetts. 
Lisa Westkaemper Rockland City Council.  
City manager Tom Luttrell.   

3. YACHTING SOLUTIONS & CONSULTANT
Phil Morong, Yachting Solutions
Chris Laughton, Yachting Solutions; 
Mark Sabatini, Landmark Corporation; 

4. MEDIA
Ron Huber, WRFR community radio; 
Steve Betts, Courier Gazette, 
Dave Getchell of Maine Boats & Harbors, 

5. MEMBERS OF PUBLIC 
Ken Pride, Rockland Yacht Club launch pilot ,  
Lynne Barnard, resident of Main Street  
Chris Johnson  & Don Johnson residents of the South end.
David & Ellie Wiley,

Backstory.....
Who owns Rockland Harbor? 
You and I. Us.  The state of Mainethrough its Bureau of Parks and Lands owns and administers all the submerged lands of Rockland Harbor (and all of Maine's state waters) on behalf of the people. 

 The Submerged Land Rules' Preamble makes that clear.
"The State of Maine holds Submerged Lands, as defined herein, in trust for the benefit, rights and use of the general public." ..."Because exclusive, private uses of Submerged Lands restrict the public's ability to exercise their rights to use and enjoy these lands, the issuance of any conveyance requires careful consideration of the impacts of such conveyances on public trust rights as well as a just and fair compensation to the public for the private use of Submerged Lands." 

* Revenue for Rockland?
What does Rockland get for allowing  exclusive use by Yachting Solutions of this part of Rockland's inner harbor?  Nothing.  The state  gets revenue from  leasing harbor floors  for slips (and for aquaculture.)   See the  Maine Submerged Lands Rules in Section 1.8 "Fees",  which state that

"The annual rental fee for slip space that is rented or otherwise made available for private use for a fee is based upon a percentage of the gross income of the Lessee."  
[Gross income of the lessee's slip rentals public or private. Detailed below]


These rules also require owners of such a development project  to  "Provide significant public benefits to the People of Maine, to offset the loss of Submerged Lands occupied by the structure,...." But the definition of "significant public benefits" is an eye-of-the-beholder term to local, state and federal permit reviewers. What's significant to one permit reviewer or decisionmaker may be of little consequence to another.

* Loss of moorings for local boaters.  Yachting Solutions' Bill Morong  said at the November HMC meeting that remaining moorings can be rearranged.

How practical is mooring field rearrangement in  a small harbor like Rockland's?  There's a lively lobster fishery, increasing recreational fisheries, . a coast guard base, windjammer fleets ferry terminal and 

Right, rearranged further from the Public Landing, perhaps in Owls Head, which would mean the little revenue from those moorings would be  lost. The interests of Rockland residents are of no interest to YS, the City, the State of the US National Park Service

"Gross income means one of two things:
1. "The total annual income received by a lessee from seasonal or transient rental to the general public of slip space over submerged land." 

2. For "...facilities with slip space that is not rented or leased to the general public"...."by calculating a regional average slip space rental fee and applying that to the portion of total linear length of slip space made available to private users for any portion of that year

Dec 7, 2017

Maine AquaVentus Project: Federal and state officials and others involved

The plan to build and operate a pair of floating wind turbines off Monhegan Island requires  coordination between local state and federal officials, academia , the interested public, wind industry    Read below of 13 federal officials, 27 state officials, 4 UMaine academics, 3 consultants and 1 representative  of ORPC the underwater turbine power company.
FEDS
Dept of Energy 
Diana Heydar diana.heyder@ee.doe.gov;
Lori Gray lori.gray@ee.doe.gov;
USFWS 
Wende Mahaney wende_mahaney@fws.gov;
Mark McCollough mark_mccollough@fws.gov;
Army Corps
Jay.L.Clement  Jay.L.Clement@usace.army.mil;
LeeAnn Neal LeeAnn.Neal@usace.army.mil

US Coast Guard
Michele E. DesAutels  Michele.E.DesAutels@uscg.mil;
David Bourbeau David.T.Bourbeau@uscg.mil;
NOAA
Mike R. Johnson mike.r.johnson@noaa.gov;
Susan.Tuxbury Susan.Tuxbury@noaa.gov;
David.Bean David.Bean@noaa.gov;
Jordan.Carduner  jordan.carduner@noaa.gov;
Jeff Murphy@noaa.gov

STATE
Wilson, Carl <Carl.Wilson@maine.gov>;
Marc Denis Nault Marc.Nault@maine.gov;
Tierney, Katherine <Katherine.Tierney@maine.gov>;
Kemper, Keel <Keel.Kemper@maine.gov>;
Chamberlain, Kristen <Kristen.Chamberlain@maine.gov>;
Benoit, Nathaniel <Nathaniel.Benoit@maine.gov>;
Stratton, Robert D <Robert.D.Stratton@maine.gov>;
Beyer, Jim R <Jim.R.Beyer@maine.gov>;
Callahan, Beth <Beth.Callahan@maine.gov>;
DiBello, Carol <Carol.DiBello@maine.gov>;
Noll, John <John.Noll@maine.gov>;
Beyer, Stacie R <Stacie.R.Beyer@maine.gov>;
Hallowell, Dawn <Dawn.Hallowell@maine.gov>;
Keliher, Patrick  patrick.keliher@maine.gov;
Cotnoir, Sarah <Sarah.Cotnoir@maine.gov>;
Todd, Charlie <Charlie.Todd@maine.gov>;
Nixon, Matthew E <Matthew.E.Nixon@maine.gov>;
Sullivan, Kelsey M <Kelsey.M.Sullivan@maine.gov>;
Bergeron, Mark <Mark.Bergeron@maine.gov>;
Cloutier, Rene <Rene.Cloutier@maine.gov>;
Taylor, Joyce <Joyce.Taylor@maine.gov>;
Perry, John <John.Perry@maine.gov>;
Spiess, Arthur <Arthur.Spiess@maine.gov>;
Mohney, Kirk <Kirk.Mohney@maine.gov>;
Hopkin, Megan M <Megan.M.Hopkin@maine.gov>;
Marden, Kendall R. <Kendall.R.Marden@maine.gov>;
Bensinger, Peggy <Peggy.Bensinger@maine.gov>

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
Jeff Thaler jeffrey_thaler@maine.edu;
Jake Ward jsward@maine.edu;
Damian Brady damian.brady@maine.edu;
Tony Viselli anthony.viselli@maine.edu;

CONSULTANTS
Peter Browne <Peter.Browne@hdrinc.com>;
Andy Qua Andy.Qua@KleinschmidtGroup.com
Kayla Easler <Kayla.Easler@KleinschmidtGroup.com>

POWER COMPANY
N Johnson njohnson@orpc.com

Dec 6, 2017

MAV Freedom of access 2017 request to Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands chief

FOAA response from John Noll Submerged Lands Director, Bureau of Parks and Lands re the offshore wind project off Monhegan.  Request was for "public records in your custody related to the Maine AquaVentus project off Monhegan Island, dating from April 1, 2017 to November 30, 2017"

Full 16 pages of emails from John Noll FOAA    Officials mentioned in the FOAA


Extracts from the  16 page FOAA 

Emails  Bob Marvinney state geologist  on agency roles

Nolls & Marvinney on state agency roles 2


Attachments mentioned in the emails

Maine Aqua Ventus Project Description (UMaine)


US Dept of Energy paper on NEPA Process re Monhegan.


May 4 2017 meeting agenda

*  May 4, 2017  meeting review

Tom Desjardins director, BPL's testimony to ME legislature against LD 1262 

LD 1262 "An Act to Protect Monhegan Island by limiting wind turbines

















Dec 2, 2017

Maine Legislature 2018 - 1st wave of new marine fishery/marine environment bill proposals

Maine Marine Resources Committee. Bills coming before it  in 2018.

Three carry over bills from 2017  & 12 new "Legislative Requests" for 2018  that should turn into LD bills coming before Maine's Marine Resources Committee very soon.. 
Stay tuned for more Resolves. 

1. Carry Over Bills 
LD 703 An Act To Address Marine Debris Resulting from Commercial Activities 
LD 922. An Act Directing the Commissioner of Marine Resources To Investigate the Conditions of Sheepscot Pond Related to a Management Plan for Anadromous Fish Species
LD 1519 An Act To Define the Intertidal Zone for the Management and Enforcement of Shellfish Conservation Ordinances 
DMR

2. Legislative Requests

ADMINISTRATIVE
LR: 2593 An Act To Correct Errors and Inconsistencies in Maine's Marine Resources Laws, Representative Kumiega of Deer Isle

SHRIMP
LR 2639 An Act To Authorize the Commissioner of Marine Resources To Limit the Number of Shrimp Licenses That May Be Used in Certain Seasons. Commissioner

VESSEL LAWS & VESSEL OPERATORS
LR: 2482 An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Use of Personal Flotation Devices in Boats
LR: 2602 An Act To Increase the Safety of Nonmotorized Watercraft in the Ocean by Requiring Lights When Visibility Is Impaired
LR: 2466 Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Investigate the High Rate of Addiction among Persons Who Fish Commercially
LR 2554 An Act To Amend the Law Regarding the Temporary Medical Allowance for Lobster and Crab Fishing License Holders

ANADROMOUS FISH
LR: 2518 An Act To Impose a 3-year Moratorium on Allowing Anadromous Fish Species in Sheepscot Pond in Palermo and To Study the Consequences of Allowing Anadromous Fish Species To Enter Sheepscot Pond, Representative Zeigler of Montville

OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
LR: 2626 Resolve, To Join the International Alliance To Combat Ocean Acidification

METALLIC MINING POLLUTION
LR: 2779 An Act To Include the Natural Resources Protection Act in the Maine Metallic
Mineral Mining Act

LR: 2779 An Act To Include the Natural Resources Protection Act in the Maine Metallic Mineral Mining Act.Ralph Chapman
LR: 2781 An Act To Include the Site Location of Development Laws in the Maine Metallic Mineral Mining Act. Ralph Chapman
LR: 2785 An Act To Limit Eligibility for a Metallic Mineral Mining Permit Chapman

Dec 1, 2017

Understanding the effects of ocean wind energy extraction upon the Gulf of Maine water column,

The scientific communities and regulatory agencies are slowly but solidly agreeing to focus attention "[o]n the Effect of Offshore Wind Farms on the Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics"  Follow the figures below for a quick summary. (Note light blue square is a 5km by 5km ocean windfarm)

Elke Ludwig's above study is behind a paywall but she is only one of a growing number of scientists willing to agree that windpower is an extractive industry.

And that chronic ocean wind energy extraction from a floating or grouted-in ocean wind park has measurable effects on the velocity of surface water downstream of each turbine.


And that this becomes an energy deficit in the waters below that surface water, both reducing the Coriolis Effect on water direction, and empowering the upwelling of waters normally below the thermocline.


The big question is: how much wind energy extraction must take place before water column energetics lower enough to destabilize the water column - especially in the summer, when GOM waters are normally pretty stratified? 

And what will that cause, ecologically  speaking?
A smaller farm: about 200 million cubic meters of water upwelling per day
A larger farm:  about 1 billion, 600 million cubic meters of water upwelling per day.  That according to the author's "guesstimate", below the Summary, Conclusion, and Outlook.





Nov 20, 2017

Rockland Harbor Commission reviewed plan to reorganize inner harbor.11/20/17 AUDIO mp3s

On November 20, 2017 the Rockland Harbor Management Commission heard from Mike Sabatini of Landmark Corp and Bill Morong of Yachting Solutions on remaking Rockland's inner harbor  Listen below  to the presentations

Pt 0 Introduction. 1min 27sec

Part 1 Mike Sabatini. Landmark Corp 1. 5min 13sec


Part 2 Mike Sabatini 7min 2 sec


Part 3 Mike Sabatini  7min 40sec


Part 4 Yachting Solutions  6min 36 sec


Part 5  Yachting  Solutions  8min 8sec


Part 6  Landmark and Yacht Solutions 6min 33sec


Part 7 Yachting Solutions &Landmark Corp 7min 46sec


Part 8.Yachting Solutions   6min 51sec


Full Harbor Management commission meeting 57 min


Mating attendees Harbor Commission members David Leon, Peter Smith, Melissa Maker, Louise McLellan Ruf;  Harbormaster Matt Riley;  Rockland development director Julie Nash; Mike Sabatini, engineer Landmark Corp;  Bill Morong & father (Bill) Yachting Solutions LLC;  Stuart Smith, landowner   Ron Huber Friends of Penobscot Bay/WRFR,  Lynne Barnard, Rockland public, Andy O'Brienm Free Press.

Nov 18, 2017

Rediscovery of the ancient Land of the Red Sunrise

 Sea level rise has played an important role in  bringing together three ancient people  , ten thousand years ago. The Wabanaki, the Maritime Archaics and the people of now sunken Georges Bank.  However, people being people, it wasn't at first an altogether peaceful coming together. Here is a fanciful; description of what may have taken place...

When the Wabanaki inhabited the coast of what is now called the Gulf of Maine, they had interactions with two other nations at their shorelines:  Red Paint People, a seafaring and tidal river tribe migrated south from Newfoundland, generations earlier 

This became  a stalemate until  members of  the indigenous people  from the 15,000 square mile island - that  is now submerged Georges  Bank - came to the Maine coast.  Georges Bank  was then a large island with human communities and wildife living on it   Its people would have been from the Rhode Island/southern Massachusetts area   It  had been a large peninsula connected to the mainland there, until sea level rise. parted it from the mainland  j

Georges Bankers joined in the attack on the Red Paints, killing many and driving away or enslaving the rest. 

Over the millenia, this offshore nation's people  (likely of Wampanoag ancestry)   became personified as the hero trickster "Gluskapi".  The now submerged Georges Bank  the place  where Gluskapi had come from  became the Land of the Red Sunrise.  The defeated Red Paint People became the demons, witches and monsters  slain by Gluskapi. 

Here's a version of that mythic tale with its echoes of that ancient time.

"This is a tale of the old time, of Glooskap, the mighty magician, who came from the Land of the Red Sunrise, sailing over the seas in a stone canoe.

Stately and handsome was the magician and when he reached the  country of the Wabanaki, he found it filled with Witches, Giants, Sorcerers, and Fiends. He pursued and  killed all these creatures, so that the Wabanaki dwelt once more in safety.,

...Then Glooskap made a rich feast by the shore, and invited all the animals to it. After which he entered his stone canoe, and, singing sweetly, sailed away over the seas, from the Country of the Wabanaki back to the Land of the Red Sunrise.










Nov 14, 2017

Audio MP3s: ME Supreme Judicial Court hearing oral arguments on rockweed case 11/14/17

 Seaweed harvesters cut intertidal rockweed during high
tide, using cutting barges and handpowered pole cutting
On November 14, 2017 the Maine Supreme Judicial Court heard oral arguments of an appeal by the seaweed cutting industry of a Maine Superior Court decision finding rockweed growing in the intertidal area  to be "owned" by the  shoreowner. SCROLL DOWN TO SPEAKERS

The case is  Kenneth W. Ross, Carl E. Ross And Roque Island Gardner Homestead Corporation, Plaintiffs / Appellees, V. Acadian Seaplants, Ltd., Defendant / Appellant.  CLF Amicus:   Docket # WAS-17-142

AUDIO MP3s
Part 0. Introduction  by Chief Justice 1min 44sec

Part 1 Acadian Sea Plants attorney & questions 13min 44sec


Part 2. Maine DMR attorney Connors & questions 5min 32sec


Part 3 Attorney Smith  for defendant & questions 19min 10sec


Part 4 Rebuttal by Acadian Atty to End 2min 43sec




Full recording 42 min 32sec 







Nov 2, 2017

Local newsie's cruise ship coverage covers up the critics

Reporter Steve Betts of the Rockland Maine Courier Gazette writes a half-baked cruise industry puff piece., that quotes not a single concerned citizen which spewing many  column inches of quotes from a  handful of  businesses that benefit from then.   Sure a few clumsy paraphrases, but all in all so badly written that you can't  help but think he plans to market it - or a barely modified version - to the cruise ship industry's magazine market.

Separating fact from fiction on the impact of cruise ships in Rockland

4
By Stephen Betts | Nov 02, 2017

Photo by: Stephen Betts
ROCKLAND — The large cruise ships that arrive in Rockland have been met with resistance by some citizens, who claim that these vessels pose environmental risks to the region, harm lobstermen by damaging traps, and bring little economic benefit to the city.
But a closer examination of these issues finds that there is little evidence to back up those arguments. Downtown business owners said this week that they see a spike in business when the large cruise ships arrive.
Ann Hoppe, owner and manager of Puffin's Nest, said the visits by the cruise ships provide a great benefit to her business. "There's a lot of foot traffic and lots of sales," Hoppe said. "The passengers love Rockland. They are tickled to be here."
Charla Prescott of the Rockland Cafe said the restaurant experiences a significant benefit when the cruise ships are in the harbor. "We get a ton of revenues," Prescott said.
Sierra Dietz, owner of the Grasshopper Shop, said the business sees about a 50 percent increase when the large cruise ships are in town. She said these visits help her keep staff employed longer in the fall and allow her to invest money back into the community.
Frank Albert of Frank's Family Hair Care said he gave five haircuts to passengers from each of the two past large cruise ships that arrived in Rockland. He said that if this occurs on future visits, he would earn up to $100 more per day.
Albert said he also sees firsthand the economic benefit from large cruise ship visits. "Unquestionably there is a benefit. I see the passengers walk by with packages and they tell me they eat at local restaurants," he said.
Lynn Archer of the Brass Compass and Archer's on the Pier restaurants said there is a huge positive impact to her businesses when the large cruise ships are in port. "They're a huge boon for business," Archer said.
The Penosbcot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce released statistics for six large cruise ships that arrived in September and October. Of the 9,728 passengers combined from those vessels, 28 percent took a bus trip shore excursion that went to Camden (Mount Battie as well as downtown Camden), the Owls Head Transportation Museum, and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.
The chamber pointed out that the remaining passengers remained in Rockland. Even those who took the bus trips returned to spend some hours in Rockland.
Environmental
Some residents have expressed concern about the potential environmental harm that the large cruise ships pose to Rockland and adjoining waters. But according to wastewater treatment specialists, that is not a concern.
Rockland Wastewater Treatment Director Terry Pinto said the ships have treatment systems on board that are superior to what Rockland has. The large cruise ships discharge their treated wastewater at least 12 miles offshore and the water discharged meets drinking water regulations.
City officials toured the Norwegian Gem when it was in port last month. City Manager Tom Luttrell said in a manager's report last month that recyclables and other certain wastes are unloaded from the ship in New York City after each seven-day cruise. Certain food wastes are shredded into fine particles and dumped overboard when the ship is 12 miles offshore.
Lobster harvesting gear
Yet another criticism of the large cruise ships is that they damage traps as they travel into Rockland Harbor. Maine Marine Patrol Sgt. Matthew Talbot said he has not had any reports this year of lobster gear being damaged by cruise ships.
He said in past years there have been some reports, but that the damage was not solely from cruise ships but also ferries, large yachts and the barge that carries cement out of Rockland. He said competing uses of the waters result in such incidents.
Large cruise ships have been targeted for criticism for much of the current decade. In March 2010, the Rockland Harbor Management Commission made a presentation to the City Council.
The report from the Harbor Management Commission stated that Bar Harbor and Portland have had a host of issues with the "mega cruise ships." Some of those concerns include environmental impacts, such as diesel engines that "spew exhaust equivalent to 10,000 cars," ocean currents that bring discharged sewage dumped three miles at sea to the shore, and pollution that negatively affects the lobster industry.
The commission also stated that studies have shown that local residents often avoid areas and businesses during peak shore visits in some towns and are "apt to avoid downtown at all times for fear a ship will be in port."
Business owners have not reported hearing of any local residents avoiding their shops on the few days that cruise ships are in town.
The commission also stated in 2010 that another concern of these other communities was an increase in crime. There are again no statistics or anecdotal reports to back up that claim in Rockland.
"We want to be clear that we are not saying no to cruise ships; we are just requesting that the council take a careful and thoughtful look at the reality of the impact on our small town," the commission stated at the time.
Some of the concerns expressed in 2010 have also been voiced more than seven years later, but without any concrete facts to support them.

Nov 1, 2017

Terminal Pollution

Terminal Pollution
Do the voters from the town of Bar Harbor, on the west side of Frenchman Bay, want a cruise ship berthing facility for large cruise ships at the old Ferry Terminal property adjacent to their downtown? This town includes voters from Bar Harbor, Hulls Cove, and Town Hill.
Anthem of the Seas, 6/28/17.  Fumigating plume, blowing down into Bar Harbor
Of the number of environmental factors that need to be investigated regarding the terminal berthing for cruise ships, one in particular, and most important, is air pollution. How do sulfur dioxide and other toxic chemicals emitted from burning diesel adversely impact residents of Bar Harbor and those in towns surrounding Frenchman Bay, which include Gouldsboro, Winter Harbor, Sorrento, Sullivan, Hancock, Lamoine, and Trenton? How are visiting tourists to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park affected by these noxious fumes? Here are some researched and documented answers.
Sulfur Dioxide Emissions from Large Diesel Engines
Keep in mind four established facts that compare diesel engine emissions from land vehicles and cruise ships:
Eighteen wheelers, dump trucks, and buses—emit 15 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere while idling;1 whereas, cruise ships release 1000 ppm of sulfur dioxide at idle which works out to be 66 times more sulfur dioxide than what those diesel vehicles emit.
While idling, 18 wheelers burn 1 gallon of diesel fuel per hour. One large cruise ship burns 320 gallons of diesel fuel per hour while idling in port to produce electricity.
Disney Magic
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends laws that restrict the idling of large diesel trucks and buses to no more than 5 minutes because of the Group 1 carcinogenic rating that diesel has when it is burned.2 All of California as well as many cities and towns across the United States now have put this law into effect.2
In addition, Bar Harbor code # 194-38,3 which was enacted on 17 June 1997, states that no motor vehicle is allowed to idle more than 5 minutes anywhere downtown. This code not only includes diesel vehicles but also cleaner gasoline-powered vehicles also.
Tenders from cruises hip Aida Diva in Bar Harbor
Cruise ShipsElectrical Needs That Affect Air Pollution
The electrical demands of cruise ships is also critical to understanding how they contribute to air pollution. When a large cruise ship is tied up to a dock, or berthed, the ship needs to generate 13 megawatts (MW) of electricity4 for thousands of people for its 10-hour visit.4 Used only seasonally, this tremendous amount of power is too demanding to plug into the towns electrical grid, it simply is not feasible. It costs $10 million per berth to install the electrical infrastructure required. A ships electricity is used for lights, internal power systems, and the desalination of ocean water to produce over 150,000 gallons per day of fresh water. For an average ship holding 3,000 people, this figure amounts to over 1 million
gallons per week.5
To produce their electrical needs, two large cruise ships berthed at the ferry terminal for their 10-hour visit will use 640 gallons (320 each) per hour and will emit 66 times the sulfur fumes that road vehicles emit per hour. The sulfur dioxide emissions from two ships are the same as the sulfur dioxide emissions from 42,624 18 wheelers at idle ( 640 X 66 = 42,624) for 10 hours. This violates Bar Harbor’s adopted downtown idling code by 5,114,880 times.

Impact of Toxic Chemicals from Diesel Exhaust on Health
Further, according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Diesel Exhaust Gases says : “The toxic chemicals of most concern in diesel exhaust are the oxides of nitrogen (nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide), sulfur dioxide, aldehydes, primarily formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein, and various hydrocarbons particles. . . . Prolonged exposure to diesel exhaust can increase the risk of cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, and respiratory diseases, including lung cancer. In June 2012, the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) classified diesel exhaust, including diesel particulate matter, as a known human carcinogen (Group 1).”6
“Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is irritating to the eyes, throat, and respiratory tract. Short-term overexposure causes inflammation and irritation, resulting in burning of the eyes, coughing, difficulty in breathing, and a feeling of chest tightness. Asthmatic individuals are especially sensitive to SO2 and may respond to concentrations as low as 0.2-0.5 [parts per million] ppm. Prolonged or repeated exposure to low concentrations (1-5 ppm) may be dangerous for persons with pre-existing heart and lung diseases. Health effects are documented at various concentrations by different researchers and organizations. A sampling of health effects that sulfur dioxide fumes have on mucous membranes in healthy individuals are outlined in the following list.”7
1-5 ppm: Threshold for respiratory response in healthy individuals on exercise or deep breathing
3-5 ppm: Sulfur dioxide gas is easily noticeable. Decreased lung function at rest and increased airway resistance
5 ppm: Increased airway resistance
6 ppm: Immediate irritation of eyes, nose, and throat
10 ppm: Worsening irritation of eyes, nose, and throat
10-15 ppm: Threshold of toxicity for prolonged exposure
20+ ppm: Paralysis or death occurs after extended exposure
150 ppm: Maximum concentration that can be withstood for a few minutes by healthy individuals
When molecules of sulfur dioxide (SO2) are inhaled, they turn into sulfuric acid (H2SO4), which is battery acid. When nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is inhaled, it turns into nitric acid (HNO3), which is the nasty component in acid rain and smog. If it comes in contact with the ocean it acidifies.
If large cruise ships are berthed at the proposed 121 Eden Street terminal site, there will be times when the diesel exhaust from these berthed cruise ships will be blown on a west, northwest wind across the land into downtown Bar Harbor as a fumigating plume. Sometimes the exhaust will travel on an easterly sea breeze right at Paradise Hill, which would be level with the smokestacks a quarter mile away and continue into Hulls Cove and then into Acadia National Park and beyond. The health effects from the fumes of these cruise ships can be measured 200 miles inland from shipping areas.
Ports around the world show high rates of lung cancer and heart disease. In Europe, 60,000 deaths from diesel are attributed to ships burning diesel and 12,000 of them are from sulfur dioxide inhalation.8 (see pg 10)
After reading this documented research, come to your own thoughtful and rational conclusions on how close you want to live to high concentrations of diesel fumes.
Jim O'Connell
Bar Harbor
Sources
1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “Diesel Fuel Standards and Rulemakings.”

See also Indiana Department of Environmental Management (id.gov): “Diesel Idling Facts and Myths.” http://www.in.gov/idem/prevention/2372.htm.

2. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans: “Diesel and Gasoline Engine Exhausts and Some Nitroarenes.” https://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/iarcnews/2012/mono105-info.php International Agency for Research on Cancer, vol 105, Lyon, France: 12 May 2012.

3. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Compilation of State, County, and local Anti-Idling Rules: Code of the Town of Bar Harbor: § 194-38. Idling of Motor Vehicles. [added 17 June 1997]
p. 42.

A. Five-minute limitation. No person may cause or allow a motor vehicle to idle for more than five consecutive minutes while that vehicle is parked in any of the downtown areas during the time from May 1 to Columbus Day.

B. Exceptions. The limitation set forth in the preceding subsection shall not apply to:
(1) Fire trucks, police cars, ambulances and other emergency vehicles while responding to an emergency call.
(2) Utility vehicles, including contractor's equipment, while engaged in the construction, maintenance or repair of utility facilities.
(3) Motor vehicles idling while in a traffic lane, as the result of congested traffic conditions beyond the driver's control (traffic jams).
(4) Refrigeration units of delivery vehicles.

C. Prima facie evidence. The fact that a parked motor vehicle is idling in violation of this section shall be prima facie evidence that the unlawful idling was caused or allowed by the person in whose name that vehicle is registered.

4. Moore, Kirk, "Harbor Emissions Shore Power and Public Health." workboat.com (Work Boat magazine) 15 November 2016.

5. Fischetti, Mark, “Working Knowledge: Cruise Ships—Nimble Skyscrapers at Sea.” scientificamerica.com 1 July 2008.

6. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs: “Diesel Exhaust Gases.”

See also note 2.

7. International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN): “Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Exposure Effects.” http://www.ivhhn.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82.



8. Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UBA) Facultat de Dret: “The Actions Adopted at the Universal and European Union Level to Cope with the Sulfur Pollution.” https://ddd.uab.cat/pub/tfg/2017/178003/TFG_lluzonventallo.pdf, p. 10.