East-West Corridor moratorium petition circulating
DOVER-FOXCROFT — A group of Dover-Foxcroft residents opposed to the proposed construction of a trans-national transportation and utility corridor through the region is currently circulating a moratorium petition for signatures to place a 180-day moratorium on such a project on the June 10 town ballot.
The group has been meeting for several months and as member Sidney Mitchell said, “It has been over two years that a cloud has been hanging over this region of Maine due to uncertainty about our homes, our land, our environment and our futures.”
Moratorium proponent Lesley Fernow commented, “Our clean natural environment is one of our greatest riches in Piscataquis County. It provides many jobs in farming, wood products and recreational tourism, not to mention that it is the reason many people live here. A massive, multinational energy corridor which permanently alters the rural nature of our environment is unsustainable.”
The moratorium is only the first step in a process in which the local community can exercise its democratic rights to decide how it wants to develop and to consider, among other possibilities, what the potential costs and benefits of a massive transportation and utility corridor coming through Maine would be. The intention, the organizers say, is ultimately to write an ordinance that will permanently protect the community from inappropriate over-development by outside, multinational corporations and destruction of natural resources that has no clear benefit to the region.
The moratorium will allow time to have thoughtful and thorough discussion about what is best for the town. Like many people in surrounding towns who have passed similar moratoria, the Dover-Foxcroft group proceeds from a strong commitment to the idea that democracy means individuals rather than corporations having the power to make decisions over their lives.
The group will be collecting signatures until April 28. Anyone who is interested may contact Mitchell 564-8687.