*LR 2358, *An Act To Provide Funding to the Department of Transportation
for a Feasibility Study for an East-West Highway, has been given the green
light for consideration this session.**
*Background*
The idea of a Maine East-West highway has been kicked around the Maine
Legislature since 1981. However, public and/or private funding has never
been provided to study the feasibility of such a highway or to finance its
construction.
Canadian businesses want an East-West highway to move goods more cheaply
from inland Canada to its eastern provinces and to a proposed Super-Port at
Halifax, Nova Scotia, for export. Maine would be used as a throughway. But
the highway could also accelerate the exploitation of Maine’s natural
resources. Of particular concern to Defending Water in Maine, is the
likelihood that the highway would make it economical for giant corporations
to profit from cutting down Maine’s forests to supply wood chips to Europe
as “green energy” and from exporting Maine’s water in bulk and in bottles
to global markets.
Defending Water in Maine and others ask: How will increased truck traffic
crossing the state benefit the people of Maine? Simply, it will not. But,
it will benefit transnational corporations like Nestlé which can profit
from using the highway to exploit and export Maine’s water to sell it
around the world.
WHY NOW?
*Peter Vigue, CEO of Cianbro, Maine’s largest construction firm, has
reignited conversations among business leaders about the East-West highway.
*The last time Vigue was vocal about the project was in 2007, when he
proposed the private toll road from Coburn Gore to Calais. Vigue again is
promoting the highway to be built on private land with other business
leaders and with state legislators. Cianbro is poised to profit
considerably, as the owner of this toll road.
*Plans to construct the road are well developed.* Cianbro has already
identified a route, and contacted major landowners; however, Cianbro has
yet to make public the route they are pursuing. See our website for a map
of the most likely route
http://defendingwater.net/maine/maine-east-west-highway-map/
*Key business leaders appear unified, and are organizing influence. *
- Eastern Maine Development Corporation has formed Mobilize Eastern
Maine, a new business leader group to promote economic development. They
appear to be networking with community college educators. For instance,
Washington County Community College (WCCC) is starting a new international
commerce business program, stating that they anticipate the East-West
highway and increased business at the ports.
- The Summit to Connect Education and Business in Eastern Maine is
hosting an event to reach out to educators on December 8. (Here is
information on this event: http://www.emdc.org/?id=44&sub_id=188, and
the new program at WCCC: WCCC creates new International Commerce
Business
program<http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://bangordailynews.com
/2011/11/14/business/wccc-creates-new-international-commerce-business-program/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQAhgAIAAoATAAOABAtYWL9gRIAVgBYgVlbi1VUw&cd=xVFBitxQNy0&usg=AFQjCNF0Ffc0Le2XGFtMxFzthZNEIKPGqg>)
*LR 2358* *was just unanimously moved forward for consideration as an
emergency bill by the Legislative Council for the upcoming second
legislative session.* **
In 2007, Vigue said that, except for river crossings and connecting to the
interstate, Cianbro didn’t need to go to the government for permitting,
since this would all be privately funded on private land.
However, Senator Doug Thomas just sponsored a bill for a feasibility study.
The bill summary states it, “would provide funding for an independent,
investment-grade feasibility study to determine the need for and location
of an east-west highway in Maine.” Bill sponsor, Senator Doug Thomas, said
that, “a surprising amount of work has been done,” that this project is
“doable”, and that this would be a boost to the Maine economy. (video of
Thomas's testimony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzan7GYQSBI
*Action Items:*
*Join our east-west highway watch group. *We will maintain a separate list
of people who want more information on the development of this threat so we
can continue to update you and network without burdening everyone on our
listserv.
* *
*Identify Landowners. *If you or someone you know has been approached
about the highway running through their land, let us know! In the near
future, we will be organizing to *canvass the area* as well and will need
your help.
*Contact your Local Representative and Senators, and the Members of the
Transportation Committee re LR 2358. *Some talking points:
- There is no reason for this to be considered as an emergency bill.
Even Rep. Thomas admits that this has been under discussion for 20 years.
The “emergency” seems to be that Cianbro wants to move ahead.
- Emergency legislation will not take into account potential
environmental impacts of this highway, particularly impacts to Maine’s
water and forests.
- A feasibility study of the East-West highway as a private toll road
should not be funded by potential investors. It is unethical to have an
investor-funded study of a project that benefits investors. Any study
must be unbiased, because we are confident that an East-West highway will
not benefit Maine people, or the environment.
- This bill is being rushed through to serve the interests of Cianbro, a
private corporation, and Canadian businesses looking to cut transportation
costs, without looking at the public interest of all Mainers. Will the
cutting down of our forests, the selling of our water, and being a
transport throughway be in the best interest of Maine residents now and in
the future?
*List of Transportation Committee Members:*
* *
*Senators:*
Douglas Thomas- R (sponsor) 277-3017 firewood@tds.net
Ronald Collins- R 985-2485 SenRonald.Collins@legislature.maine.gov
Bill Diamond- D 892-8941 SenBill.Diamond@legislature.maine.gov
*Representatives:*
Wayne Parry- R 286-9145 RepWayne.Parry@legislature.maine.gov
Alexander Willette- R 689-8332 alexander.willette@gmail.com
James Gillway- R 548-6372 RepJames.Gillway@legislature.maine.gov
Kimberley Rosen- R 469-3779 Kurlykim40@aol.com
Peter Rioux- R 659-2293 RepPeter.Rioux@legislature.maine.gov
Richard Cebra- R 693-6782 RepRich.Cebra@legislature.maine.gov
Ann Peoples- D 287-1430 RepAnn.Peoples@legislature.maine.gov
Charles Theriault- D 728-4526 RepCharlesK.Theriault@legislature.maine.gov
Edward Mazurek- D 542-0017 RepEd.Mazurek@legislature.maine.gov
George Hogan- D 423-4293 RepGeorge.Hogan@legislature.maine.gov
