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Sears Island, an undeveloped 941-acre property at the head of Penobscot Bay, has been the proposed site for a great variety of industrial projects over the past 40 years - everything from a nuclear plant to an aluminum smelter, a coal-fired plant and a liquefied natural gas terminal. Against all odds, the island has remained to this day in a relatively unspoiled state. Now we have the opportunity to determine its future through open discussion among disparate interests. Sears Island is a priceless piece of Maine's natural and cultural heritage and unless we act now to permanently protect it, the island will always be threatened by new development schemes. It is the largest mostly wild island in Maine that is accessible from the mainland, with 5 miles of coastline -- sadly, a sizable percentage of the state's remaining public shorefront property. Traditional recreational uses include boating, fishing, picnicking, hiking and cross-county skiing. Sears Island offers stunning landscapes and provides critical habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. 168 species of birds have been identified on the island, which is a stopover on migratory routes between the Arctic and South America. In addition, the island's eelgrass and clam beds are an important nursery for marine life in Penobscot Bay. With proper management of wildlife habitat and human trails Sears Island could become a valued destination in the growing ecotourism industry. ***
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