The midcoast towns of Warren and Union have joined neighboring Hope in passing stricter limits on industrial-scale metal mining.
The vote comes after the towns temporarily banned mining for months in response to efforts by Canadian mining company Exiro to extract cobalt, nickel and copper near Crawford Pond, a body of water that touches all three towns.
Hope enacted its ban on industrial-scale metal mining in January.
Citizens in the towns decided to enact the moratoriums, followed by strict regulations, out of concern that Exiro’s mining could affect property values and local scenery while potentially polluting the local watershed and affecting the health and safety of residents.
Union voted overwhelmingly to change local rules to allow industrial-scale metal mining only in an industrial district that so far doesn’t exist.
The industrial district is “floating,” which means Union residents will have to give additional approval to defining the district if any entity seeks a mining permit and rezoning, according to Dave Stuart, co-founder of the advocacy group Citizens Against Residential Mining Activity.
Warren’s voters effectively chose to ban industrial-scale metallic mining in town, according to the Penobscot Bay Pilot. But there are additional provisions that would allow any company seeking to mine to appeal, Stuart said.
Exiro did not respond to a request for comment. The company hasn’t been in contact with anyone from the three towns either, according to Stuart.
