The Wisdom of the Bullfrog
Op-Ed by HLH President, Sid Block
Retired Four-star Admiral William McCraven writes, “Sooner or later the actions of every leader will be scrutinized… there are three questions that should be applied to every decision and action: Is it ethical, legal and moral. Ethical—does it follow the rules? Legal—does it follow the law? And moral—does it follow what you know to be right?” *
In his book, McCraven emphasized bad decisions are not justifiable even when rationalized as being “for the greater good”. The Nordic saga in Belfast is a notable example of an attempt to try to use “the ends to justify the means”-- especially when the ends are not themselves justifiable.
Beginning in 2018, Nordic Aquafarms Inc.; two Governors of different parties; local, State and federal regulatory agencies; the Belfast City Council; and all their respective attorneys and advisors failed in every aspect of what should have been ethical, legal and moral decisions, decisions for which they are all accountable.
As was amply demonstrated in the courts, public hearings of the environmental protection agency and in multiple press reports, the persons and entities listed above, individually or in consort, colluded, bullied, mislead, prevaricated and demeaned individuals, organizations and concerned citizens, all to protect a project that falsely promised jobs, wealth and environmental benefit.
Even Nordic’s recent notice of withdrawal from the project repeats the same subsequently disproven claims relating to “the greater public good”, as though the original advertisement was just slightly rewritten in retrospect.
Especially egregious was Nordic’s malicious attempt to steal privately owned property and a conservation area for which Nordic and its counsel knew in advance they had no claim to or right to use.
When Nordic’s direct attempt to misappropriate this land failed in the Law Court, Nordic and the City of Belfast attempted to use eminent domain to seize that same private land (including land outside the City’s own boundary) for Nordic’s use and benefit, under the pretextual guise of making a public park (under which Nordic could lay its pipes and upon which it could build an industrial pump house). This proposed use was in direct violation of a deeded use restriction for “residential purposes only” that the Law Court affirmed as binding in February 2023.
Every claim of public and environmental benefit was inflated or false; every promise Nordic and politicians promoting this project made was hollow and misleading. Sadly, this project did not fail because it was environmentally damaging – it failed because Nordic proposed to build its project on land they did not own and had no right to use. Even though it is now clear our community would have been far worse had Nordic’s and its allies’ plans come to fruition – Nordic likely would have been permitted to build this environmentally disastrous project – spewing 7.7 million gallons of wastewater a day in Penobscot Bay -- if it had not tried to build its project on someone else’s land.
Early on, many who attended the public hearings recognized the deficiencies and the deceit, warned the community and organized to stop the project. Along the way, there have been those who were harmed, physically, financially and psychologically by Nordic and its enablers. There are reputations that need to be restored and losses that should be compensated. Divisions within the community need to be repaired by open public review and discussion.
The Nordic affair should be a warning to others who would do the same, but I am pessimistic. Nordic and its promoters and supporters just happened to be particularly inept, were caught by exceptional diligence, and via hard work by concerned citizens may actually be brought to account. How many other similar schemes locally and nationally have, are, or will be planned--and succeed--because the awareness and wherewithal to resist will not be present or sufficient?
*McRaven, WR. The Wisdom of the Bullfrog. Grand Central, New York, 2023. P179.