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Sep 28, 2021

Rockland Harbor Commission 9/28/21 met with rep of Safe Harbors Maine, Listen on audio MP3s

The Rockland Harbor Management Commission met  September 28, 2021 and  had a 38 minute  presentation  and Q&A session with Mike Sabatini, formerly of Yachting Solutions, now representing  Safe Harbors Marinas a marina holding company that has bought the former Yachting Solutions LLC property and its dock and proposes to extensively dredge  and add new features.  First comes  introductions of Rockland Harbor Mgmt Commission members and guests


This is followed by a 38 minute Safe Harbor presentation and discussion led by Mike Sabatini   See map of project coordinates   and map of  proposed dredge plan,                supplied by Sabatini for the meeting




Sep 23, 2021

Land-based Aquaculture in the balance. Audio from a UCN webinar on the falling favor of RAS

 On September 23rd, Under Current News held a webinar  on Landbased Aquaculture's future, featuring  Maggie Fried of CREO, Erik Tveteraas of Nutreco and  Karl Øystein Øyehaug of Atlantic Sapphire. Following introductions, host Matt Craze gave a 5 minute presentation on the  issues facing RAS fishfarming, then posed  questions to the panel  about rising construction costs and how it has dampened investor enthusiasm, and more. The challenge of community opposition is also examined.

 After the introductions, UCN host  Matt Craze posed a number of questions including  some of these asked by viewers in the webinar chat.  [ I and perhaps others asked for the effect to the LBA wannabee universe of the  prolonged successful litigation by community groups  and others over the proposed siting of a   certain Maine project.  Recording# 15 it what came of that]   

1. Introductions 4min

2. Matt Craze Presentation 5min24sec

Question 1  Is there there financing beyond Scandinavia? Risk.

3. Maggie Fried (CREO) 5min21sec 

4. Erik Tveterass (Nutreco) 4min34sec

5. Craze reminds audience to send in questions 14sec

6. Karl Oynstein-Oyehaug (Atlantic Sapphire)  8min 24sec

7. Maggie Fried 2min32sec     How do investors think about land based aquaculture?

8. Erik Tveterass  24min 21sec What is the minimum  size of RAS operations to be viable?

9. Maggie Fried 2min25sec   What metrics are  big investors concerned with?

10. Erik Tveterass 5min27sec What is the minimum amount of revenue for a RAS project?  

11. Erik Tveterass 2min23sec What about barramundi  or other species for LBAs?

12. Maggie Fried 2min 6sec  Landbased pricing v conventional salmon farms pricing.

13. Erik Tveterass Nutreco 6min 17secs  How look at  the costs in RAS project?

15 Maggie Fried 3min 5sec  What about environmental concerns?

14. Closing  6min17sec  Questions from audience and  are there  known unknowns?

15  Full recording 1hr 13min 

Sep 19, 2021

Safe Harbor's marina sprawl plan for Rockland Harbor. Links to all maps from their 9/1/2021 application. And the application.

Nationwide marina Holding company Safe Harbors, DBA as Safe Harbors Rockland LLC , is trying to expand the marina they picked up from Yachting Solutions in Rockland Harbor with the goal of attracting mega yachts. What you need to know in 15 maps and diagrams from the company's 89 page NRPA application to the state's Submerged Lands Program. These illustrate existing conditions, proposed dredge plan, proposed pier extensions and floating concrete wave attenuators, And more. See what You can do after the link list

LINKS





















Critics say operation of the project will significantly block public access to the city's navigation channels during their peak use seasons, It would also degrade downtown Rockland's historic and irreplaceable public views at Fishermen's Memorial Park: there the harbor, its lighthouse and the Fox Islands of Vinalhaven and North Haven.




















Sep 16, 2021

The Sider London plastic spill at Mack Point in December- Sprague takes the fall in consent agreement.

PLASTIC SPILL ALERT
Check out  below the just released proposed consent agreement and supporting documents responding to the  December 2, 2020 spill of bales of (plastic) solid recovered fuel  by  Sprague personnel operating the crane on the M/V Sider London. Then let DEP know what you think 

Maine DEP has announced  a 30 day public comment period beginning Friday, September 17, 2021. Details below the links. 

Note: Sprague has signed this agreement.  But the agency says it will only either accept it or require changes , AFTER they consider the public's information.


Dry Cargo Risk Assessment  (F-19)




WHAT'S NEXT?  DEP's Water Quality enforcement Chief Pamela Parker explains: (separated into  sections for ease of reading)


"Once the public comment period has ended, the Department will respond to all relevant comments and include those responses in the information provided to the Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) 2 weeks prior to the meeting where this action will be heard. 


"The BEP meeting provides another opportunity for public comment. 


"After deliberation the Board will vote to approve the agreement or direct staff to amend the document and renegotiate with Sprague. 


"You will note that this agreement does not require further remediation of the spilled plastic, after much deliberation, the Department concluded that additional cleanup actions would do more harm than good.  


"You will also note that Sprague did not propose a supplemental environmental project, this is always an option for the violator but Sprague chose not to pursue that option as it may have significantly delayed settling this matter. 

 

"If you have comments,  please do not hesitate to send them to me."


Pamela Parker

Water Enforcement and Boat Pumpout Program

Division of Water Quality Management

Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Pamela.d.parker@maine.gov

(cell) 207-485-3038














The new Mound Builders. Will a fresh look at LD 1639 finally bring end to the mass importation of solid waste into Maine?

Juniper Ridge State Landfill  Sunlight Media Collective photo
As out of state solid waste-filled trucks continue making their 24/7 way into Maine, raising onward a mighty mound to the skies, the incoming legislative session brings back LD 1639 An Act To Protect the Health and Welfare of Maine Communities and Reduce Harmful Solid Waste

The bill could easily put an end to this disgraceful use of Maine as Permanent Dumpland of the Northeast. But will state legislative leaders stand up to the blandishments and threats of Big Waste?

Below, read what the people told the Maine legislature back in May 2021, when the Environment and Natural Resources Committee last considered the bill . LD 1639- related online documents. **  Audio MP3s from the 5/17/21 hearing

1639 Public Hearing Testimony, 66 items May17,2021
Barrett, EdLewiston
Blair, PeterConservation Law Foundation
Blanchette, LeonardBrunswick Sewer District
Blows, JamesSaco
Boulos, RebeccaMaine Public Health Association
Boyd, WayneHolden
Bradford, AbigailEnvironmental Priorities Coalition
Bullard, SamPeace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine
Cayer, MarkMayor of Lewiston
Chase, CrystalChase Trucking
Clark, PaulaMaine DEP
Colihan, DanaPortland
Couillard, TroyTRC Trucking
Curley, PatriciaEdgecomb
Dana, MaulianPenobscot Nation
Dearborn, MelissaWaldoboro
Deming, AdamGray
Eaton, ChuckGreenbush
Elliott, JacquelynWaterboro
Eshoo, Amy350 Maine
Exchange, MitchellExchange Trucking LLC
Filion, NicholeComplete Staffing Solutions
Firmin, ScottPortland Water District
Gendron, ToddEasy Rent-All Corp.
Gilman, BenMaine State Chamber of Commerce
Goldberg, NealMMA
Green, ZebSkowhegan
Grenfell, TrevanionUnity
Haskell, TimothyYork Sewer District
Haynes, MaryNorway, Maine
Jackson, AnthonyBrewer
Jeffers, LincolnLewiston
Leahey, GregoryReSource Waste Services
Leithiser, CharlesOld Town
Leslie, JohnOrrington
Lippincott, BillHampden
Lister, HillaryAthens
MacDonald, AmberHolden
Martinez-Alfonzo, StephanieUnity
Mason, GarrettAssociated Builders and Contractors of Maine
Merrill, KellySkowhegan
Mosley, MichaelWaterville
Nichols, SarahBangor
Obomsawin, MaliSunlight Media Collective
Oltarzewski, DianeBelfast
Peaslee, TravisLewiston - Auburn
Peters, RyanNewport
Robertson, CherylOrono
Roger & Family Doucette, SarahWhitefield, NH
Sack, KerryOld Town
sanborn, Lokotahindian island
Smith, HunterSierra Club Maine
Spencer, EdDon't Waste Maine
Staples, BarryStaples Trucking
Stone, BonniePittsfield
Swan, JonSave Forest Lake
Tipping, MikeOrono
Townsend, ElizaAppalachian Mountain Club
Troiano, TJTroiano Waste Services, Inc
Wade, TimMaine Water Environment Association
Walker, LeroyAuburn
Ward, MarkBristol
Warming, Betty-JoLimington
Willett, ShaneWillett Trucking
Woodbury, SarahSouth Portland
WRIGHT, SHELBYCasella