On Tuesday, June 13, Union voters will have the opportunity to show their support for regulating and controlling industrial metallic mining in our residential town.  Ballots will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the William L. Pullen Municipal Building at 567 Common Road in Union. 

Two items on the Town Warrant are crucially important – Articles 4 and 5 – which can be found here.

Article 4 is a proposal by citizens’ petition to amend Union’s land use ordinance in order to regulate and control industrial-scale metallic mineral mining. 

Article 5 is a moratorium on any industrial mining and exploration to allow the Union Planning Board time to align existing ordinances and its comprehensive plan with the amendment proposed in Article 4.

It is crucial that all Union voters show up to vote “YES” on Articles 4 and 5.  Union not only needs these Articles to pass; residents need to show their overwhelming support.

For those who have not followed this issue over the last four months, these Articles arose out of Canadian company Exiro’s acquisition of mineral exploration rights near Crawford Pond in Warren and expression of interest in exploring for metallic minerals in a 30-square mile area primarily in Union and Warren (but also Hope). 

Upon learning this, seven Union and Warren residents formed a community group (“Citizens Against Residential Mining Activity” or “CARMA”) to organize residents and determine the most efficient way to protect our water and environment from the significant health and safety risks associated with metallic mining. 

CARMA has worked tirelessly to advocate and educate on this issue.  CARMA now has hundreds of Union and Warren residents as members, volunteers and supporters.  Perhaps most important, CARMA has the expertise and resources to analyze the correct legal process for protecting our communities now against the threat of mining in our residential communities. 

Do not let Union become a mining town: Vote “YES” on Articles 4 and 5 on June 13.

You may hear comments that CARMA has not followed the preferred process of certain Union officials.  CARMA has and continues to always invite dialogue with town officials.  We want to work with the town officials and, of course, we are meticulous about following an appropriate and legally defensible process. 

CARMA will always speak for the people and invite collaboration with our towns, but we are not afraid to be vocal advocates. 

CARMA has facilitated the democratic process available to Mainers to protect themselves using the citizens’ petition process.  It is time to cast your vote.  The beauty of Maine’s democratic process is that it allows citizens to take matters into their own hands to change how their towns are regulated when there are a sufficient number of supportive citizens.  No town process can override that. 

CARMA answers to all residents who want to protect our water, preserve our natural resources, and ensure our ordinances are consistent with what our comprehensive plan requires: “a small town atmosphere”, “quality water”, and “not allowing environmental pollution”.  If you are one of those residents, please cast a ballot on June 13: Vote “YES” on Articles 4 and 5 on June 13.

 CARMA Board of Directors: Janan Archibald, Lori Bailey, Ike Johnson, Arleigh Kraus, Bill Stinson, David Stuart, Kathy Wellen