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I am writing to publicly thank the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) for its five-to-two vote on Feb. 14, rejecting Wolfden’s rezoning application for a mine at Pickett Mountain.
During the process, the commission and its staff deliberated on Wolfden’s rezoning application, held open meetings at various places around the state, and accepted oral and written testimony and evidence submitted by interested parties. In Millinocket, I was one who spoke out against the project, and I later submitted a letter amplifying my views.
At 80 years old, I have lived and worked most of my life in the Katahdin area, and have resided nearly half of it in Norcross, in the Unorganized Territories. My husband and I grew up when many of Maine’s rivers and lakes were polluted. Now our grandchildren enjoy swimming out our back door.
The Katahdin area is struggling with underemployment but it is also moving forward in sensible development of our wild and wonderful natural resources. Yes, we need jobs here, but not the kinds of jobs that could potentially destroy wildlife habitat and poison our waters — not now and definitely not for our future generations to have to clean up.
Again, thank you to the LUPC for rejecting Wolfden mining’s rezoning application.
Marian Hale Fowler
Indian Purchase Township
