I am encouraged to hear that the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has listened to the citizens of Westbrook, its city officials and state legislative delegation, in making the right decision to allow a public hearing on the proposed burning of construction and demolition debris by Sappi at its biomass plant here in Westbrook.

Particular thanks go to DEP Commissioner Gallagher and especially to Randy McMullin of the Maine DEP, Portland office, who was very helpful and forthcoming with information while I attempted to educate myself on this proposed process. There are many questions I still have, and no doubt many of you have. This public hearing process will allow those questions to be asked, concerns to be raised, and hopefully satisfiable answers for all to understand will be provided.

I have heard from a number of residents after they had received notification in late August that this application was being brought forth by Sappi. Understandably, there are concerns about the application and possible ramifications resulting from the proposed process. There have been numerous questions raised as to the potential degradation of air quality. Maine currently has the highest childhood asthma rate in New England. Air quality monitoring, disposal of residual waste, health impacts related to burning construction/demolition debris, technology utilized to burn the debris and regulatory oversight to verify what is being burned.

My belief is that we should be provided a process that is deliberative, open and educational for all citizens of Westbrook, Sappi and the Maine DEP, and that all of the facts be laid on the table for consideration/review and understanding. The approval of the public hearing process will start us down this road. As we read of other communities and states totally eliminating or putting a temporary moratorium on these types of processes, we must rightfully step back, slow down and assess the process and have a broader understanding of what it might or might not bring to our community and its citizenry.

Westbrook is a community we are all proud to call home. A community that is now looked upon as a more desirable and healthy place to live and raise a family. We want to continue down that path.

Our demographic, our economics and our vision are changing. We are in constant transition. However, we cannot forget the thousands of men and women who trudged to work at “the mill” with lunch basket in hand over the decades. They are in large part, the collective backbone that formed the body of this community for all of us now to enjoy today and tomorrow.

Tim Driscoll

State Representative

District 126

Westbrook