September 12, 2001

Mr. Laurice U. Churchill, Aquaculture Administrator

State of Maine Department of Marine Resources Laboratory

P.O. Box 8

West Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04575-0008

Dear Mr. Churchill:

It is with the compounded sadness and anger resulting from yesterday’s national tragedy that I look out upon Penobscot Bay and witness Northport resident’s nightmare of a permanent and unmanned barge with cables fanning out hundreds of feet to create the largest marine hazard in the history of this area. This installation, which may have been approved by your Department in error, represents a completely unacceptable navigational obstruction and liability for the more than six hundred boats that moor locally and for anyone sailing between Belfast and Camden.

Neither I, nor any fellow citizen of Northport with whom I have spoken about this, had any idea that this commercial enterprise was about to occur. In fact, even our Harbormaster, Mr. Mike Brown, has mentioned that he was unaware that the application to your Department for this had been approved. I understand that Ms. Kathy Messier, Harbormaster of Belfast, is astonished by the inappropriate location; virtually out in the middle of the Bay and unprotected from heavy seas, thus potentially posing a very real threat to the safety of local mooring fields in Northport and Belfast.

Will you please take the necessary action to have this poorly conceived abortion removed from our waters and note this request that nothing similar, as a result of misrepresentation or otherwise, is ever placed here again under the auspice of your Department. I would appreciate your written response regarding this matter as soon as possible. Thank you.

Sincerely,