AUGUSTA — As I travel around the state of Maine, I talk with people about their hopes and plans for the future. I listen and learn about how we can grow our state’s economy, how we should inspire people to reach higher and, just as significantly, what impediments stand in our way.

As a result of listening and learning, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Maine Development Foundation, is in the midst of implementing a five-year Economic Strategy for Maine based on recommendations set forth in our landmark publication, “Making Maine Work: Critical Investments for the Maine Economy.”

The Economic Strategy for Maine is about building a stronger business climate with two key goals.

• The first goal is to help Maine grow – and sustain growth – by continuously improving the underlying processes that drive business investment throughout the state.

• The second goal is to enhance the quality of life for all Mainers by supporting processes that balance the financial, social and environmental needs of our communities.

During a recent trip to Aroostook County, discussions about these statewide goals focused on more pointed local concerns: How do we keep our young people in The County? Where will our children find good-paying jobs? Will they be able to raise families in this special part of the state? How will they ever afford to buy a home here?

At the Maine State Chamber, we believe the Maine Legislature has the opportunity to move the state closer to achieving the goals established in our Economic Strategy and, at the same time, address the concerns of so many in Aroostook County – by passing L.D. 750, regulations that will allow strategically located and environmentally responsible mining in Maine.

The Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee has studied mining regulations for three years now. Regulations currently in place are so restrictive that mining, once a thriving industry that drove people and investments into our state, is practically nonexistent.

As a matter of fact, Maine ranked 45th among states in the value of products mined between 1992 and 2005. These are products that we all use every day in our homes and at work – everything from jewelry, to cellphones, to automobiles.

The Environment and Natural Resources Committee carefully scrutinized the mining regulations originally proposed by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Following weeks of discussions that included input from prominent environmental organizations and interested citizens, a majority of the committee voted to support tough new mining regulations that will go even further to safeguard our state’s natural resources.

Maine’s business community and all the people I’ve talked with in Aroostook County insist that any legislation advancing mining must require strict protections for our environment. L.D. 750, with its stringent monitoring and comprehensive protection measures, does just that.

Revising Maine’s mining laws is one of the great economic development opportunities that the 127th Maine Legislature will consider.

One mine in Aroostook County could potentially create up to 700 direct and indirect jobs in the area, according to a report that analyzed the economic impacts associated with the development of a mine. And mining jobs pay above the average wage for similar private-sector jobs, based on information from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The full Maine House and Senate will be considering L.D. 750 in the coming weeks, and we expect there will be vigorous debate on the issue, just as there was in the committee.

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce urges legislators to pass this vital piece of legislation. The bill, if enacted into law, will encourage economic growth in an industry that has for far too long been dormant in an area of our state where jobs are desperately needed. And, importantly, it would respond to a lot of the questions and concerns raised by people in Aroostook County about their hopes and plans for their children and their children’s futures.

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