LETTER | Ignoring harbormaster input does not serve Biddeford’s interest

Editor:

In response to Anonymous writer attacks anonymous UNE critics; Biddeford Gazette, June 9, 2026, Kyle H. Noble here, no anonymity.

Yes, this UNE pier issue is documented as being at least 10 years old because in 2016, in its concluding page, a report from UNE pier engineers to city of Biddeford clearly shows UNE’s intent to ignore our local harbormaster’s input on pier location. It does so by showing that all other pier permits will be secured before a permit from Biddeford itself.

Also, that report does not admit that federal law and regulations provide for harbormaster input at the beginning and end of pier design and approval.

In Biddeford, our harbormaster’s representation of local rights was circumvented and ignored by both city leadership and the University of New England.

The harbormaster’s design input was misrepresented by UNE whenever they spoke of, or drew, pier plans. This approach was successful at eliminating the most knowledgeable local input and causing the Maine Department of Marine Resources / Department of Environmental Protection to accept UNE’s rejection of local expert input.

Unfortunately, that acceptance is itself a violation of the Natural Resources Protection Act and the National Environmental Policy Act which require Maine DMR/DEP to find the BEST use of local intertidal resource . . . for both the applicant and other users surrounding the proposed development.

The harbormasters recommendations would lead to a pier with extremely good ocean access, less riverside forest disturbance and ground coverage, and less interference with existing mooring fields. That would be a properly legal result of this proposed development.

Strange that UNE, while claiming to be an environmental protector, has a greater desire for its pier of choice than for proper sharing use of intertidal resources and less intrusive riverfront development. But what do we know……we are only locals . . . up against the professionally-led PR department and full-time legal staff of UNE.

Like I have written to the Maine Attorney General, if this pier approval stands then this Biddeford process will have created a new approach to pier approvals where harbormaster input is meaningless.

So much for legal processes dating back to colonial times.

UNE is still hoping for a fortuitous construction of its desire rather than a proper siting analysis.

Kyle H. Noble, Biddeford

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