E-Mail Message From Bob Foley To SOS Maine Members
March 12, 2004

Good News!  The Natural Resources Committee of the Maine Legislature has unanimously approved the Sand Dune Rules as adopted by the BEP last June which allows rebuilding and maintenance and repairs of properties on the frontal and back dune as long as the buildings are flood proofed and elevated.

The committee rejected attempts by Maine Audubon to go back to the old rules and recommendations by the state environmental departments who wanted to amend the BEP rules to limit some rebuilding and impose other restrictions. What has come out of this marathon 3 week process is an agreement from both sides of the issue to sit down and discuss further issues and concerns that both sides have which will include a state wide beach nourishment program that we were pushing.

It is clear that our efforts worked at getting the administration to agree with us that proactive beach nourishment, flood mitigation projects such as dune restoration and beach management are the keys to future resource protection not the "retreat from the shore" policy advocated by the environmental groups.  Look for our spring newsletter for a full detailed account.  For now at least we won!!!!!!

Sincerely,
Bob Foley
SOS-Maine
Government Affairs and Public Policy Chair