Did you get your letter e-mailed to Maine's Department of Environmental Protection by today's 5PM deadline? I hope so. If we want northern York County to reach its full potential economically, the DEP needs to share the Governor's emphasis on jobs creations and economic development. Here's the letter I submitted at about 4:45 p.m.:
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Dear Mr. Parker,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the City of Biddeford’s proposal to buy and close MERC, a process which would require a slight adjustment to the rules and regulations that govern the use of the Juniper Ridge landfill.
I write as the co-founder and former president of an organization called Twin Cities Renaissance, a group formed in February of 2000 to call attention to the problems caused by the presence of a solid waste incinerator in the middle of two downtown districts, those of Biddeford and Saco.
At the time, I had owned an advertising agency in Biddeford for 14 years. We started the agency in 1987 on the outskirts of town, and then in 1995 we moved the agency to Biddeford’s downtown, on Washington Street, right across from the Wonderbar Restaurant and just a stone’s throw from the MERC incinerator. Our lease on Washington Street was up for renewal in the year 2000, and in this particular blog post earlier this year (http://bit.ly/MQNMnE), I explained how MERC’s presence definitely contributed to my decision not to renew my lease in Biddeford. Due to the nuisances that MERC created, I instead chose instead to start a business in Portland.
In being so open about MERC’s connection to my decision, I am actually fairly unique compared to most businesses. Most businesses keep their internal business decisions to themselves, and are quite conservative about sharing that kind of information. As a native of Biddeford, I’ve always felt that keeping that kind of information quiet does a disservice to my hometown. But I do understand why other businesses are not as forthcoming with that type of information.
However, in the last two decades, I have also been fortunate to work with many mayors, city managers and economic development directors on both sides of the Saco River. In addition, I’ve been lucky enough to have the North Dam Mill in Biddeford, and the Saco Island development in Saco, as clients. I learned a lot in dealing with all those folks. I can tell you without reservation that the presence of the incinerator in downtown Biddeford has had a markedly negative effect on the abilities of both city government and private landlords to attract business and new companies to what should be a thriving hub of economic activity. Of course those are stories that you’ll never hear. A tenant lost because of MERC’s odor problem doesn’t stop any landlord from trying to sell the next tenant on moving in. I hope that dynamic is clear to you.
That situation has improved somewhat recently. When the Biddeford city Council voted 8 to 1 on July 31 to buy and close the MERC incinerator, there was an immediate spike in interest, enthusiasm and excitement about the futures of these Twin Cities. Not only had the City of Biddeford negotiated a complex package of legal agreements that would enable it to remove MERC once and for all as the significant obstacle to economic development that it is, but it had done so on its own, with no help from the State of Maine. Longtime observers, including me, were jubilant and very impressed with the determination and courage that our City Council and our Mayor had demonstrated. Biddeford has courageously corrected what is universally regarded as an egregious example of flawed planning, all by itself.
Now, of course, only the Department of Environmental Protection stands in the way. Potentially. And hopefully not.
The original design of the plant, an outcome in which the citizens of Biddeford had no say, called for an annual capacity of far less than 100,000 tons of solid waste; if I remember correctly, that figure I believe was 79,000 tons of solid waste annually. No more. That’s what was sold to the citizens of Biddeford, along with the absolute guarantee that the plant would emit no foul odors. In the intervening years, the DEP has played an integral part in allowing the plant to, at one point, process more than 300,000 tons of solid waste annually. And only once in that 25 years has the DEP fined the MERC plant for odor violations.
It is quite clear that this entire process --- a series of green lights from the DEP for increases in annual tonnage --- robbed this city of the ability to chart its own future.
Private citizens have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own money trying to call attention to the situation, and trying to persuade government officials to deal with the situation and to solve the problem. At long last, the City of Biddeford --- not the State of Maine, not the federal government --- has arrived at a reasonable and prudent solution.
In the past six months, I have been lucky enough to arrange and/or participate in tours of the North Dam Mill with Governor Paul LePage, United States Sen. Susan Collins, and US senatorial candidate Angus King. It is beyond debate, and all three appeared to share this view, that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Biddeford. They saw what citizens here in Biddeford and Saco have known for many years: MERC did not cause the decline of the Biddeford’s downtown, but it surely does impede the reversal of that decline.
I understand the serious issues with which the DEP and Commissioner Aho must wrestle. I understand the intent of the state’s solid waste hierarchy, I understand the economic self interest of the other three incinerators in the state, and I understand the jittery nerves of a few citizens in Westbrook, Lewiston and Old Town.
However, I also understand that Maine’s solid waste hierarchy is a policy; an abstraction and an ideal, not an absolute and rigid straitjacket. Given all the issues that come into play, I urge the Department to see the big picture. This is an economic development issue, not just a narrow solid waste issue. The DEP was complicit in helping Biddeford make its planning mistake almost 3 decades ago. The time for finger-pointing has long passed, and there is absolutely no need for any of that now. But as the Department continues its deliberations, I urge that it not perpetuate one of the most notable planning gaffes in state history. More important, don’t make a new one.
This is a decision about jobs and economic development. I urge the DEP to approve these proposals, and allow the minor adjustments to state solid waste policy that will allow the removal of a significant obstacle to redevelopment in downtown Biddeford/Saco. Such a decision would be in line with Governor LePage’s emphasis on jobs creation and economic development. On balance, this is the right decision, although a difficult one, and all the people of Maine will benefit.
Thank you for your time, and I wish you the very best as you work through these issues.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 6:44PM 
If you're tired of Republicans and Democrats bashing each other, WATCH THIS VIDEO.In this era of vicious partisan politics, this video might surprise you. Democrat Barry Hobbins is running to be the state representative from District 133 in Maine. The mayor, Mark Johnston, is a lifelong Republican. Here's what Johnston had to say about Hobbins today, October 31, 2012.
