When I was elected to the 125th Legislature as the senator from Franklin County, I was given the honor to serve on a special select committee to deal with LD 1, “An Act to Ensure Regulatory Fairness and Reform.”

The committee’s goal was to figure out how we could improve the regulatory environment within the state.

One area we decided needing streamlining was Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection. Many businesses and environmental groups felt the BEP was getting bogged down in managing the Department of Environmental Protection and conducting hearings on too many projects instead of focusing on projects having a significant environmental impact on the state. One such project is CMP’s Clean Energy Connect.

Unfortunately, all the work on LD 1 has been lost on today’s BEP chair. Consider that the original permit appeal filed in April 2020 is scheduled to be taken up over two years later. That he will not allow any testimony on what has happened related to the corridor since the original appeal was filed, including the DEP commissioner’s permit suspension and the November referendum vote.

More disappointing that he is not allowing public testimony.

So, I go back to LD 1. The work we did was established to ensure projects of statewide significance are carefully reviewed by BEP. Whether people are in favor or against the corridor, they should be outraged at the BEP’s actions, or inactions.

BEP board members need to step up, demand a public hearing on the whole record and not an outdated appeal.

Tom Saviello, Wilton

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