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Letter to editor: Will tourists flock to see our dump?

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To the editor,

There are many reasons that people choose to live in Milton, many of which have to do with the rural character and the abundant natural resources that are available for us to enjoy.

We each are here for only a short time, in that short time we owe it to the future generations to protect our environment. A clean and healthy environment is part and parcel of the wealth and quality of life that we desire for ourselves now and for our children in the future. People demand that the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the food they eat is free of pollution and contaminants; they want to live undisturbed by noise, and they want to enjoy the beauty of the countryside, unspoiled lakes, rivers and forest areas.

Nowadays protection of the environment is very important as the world is moving into a new era without considering any of the major problems of pollution with rapid industrialization.

Natural environment is undoubtedly one of the major problems facing all the people inhabiting our planet. For many centuries the issue has been neglected by lots of nations and as a result it becomes more and more difficult to find a single unpolluted area on Earth. Taking that into consideration, we all know that we struggle against contamination and there is a great need to protect the environment. It is mainly because air, water and soil are unsuitable to sustain life.

We have but one Earth, and for it to last an eternity, we need to protect it. Regulations and laws are not always up to date and current regulations are usually a couple of years at the least behind on what needs to be done to protect our natural resources.
There needs to be accountability by all of us on what we dispose of and where we put it.
Milton is fortunate to have so many natural resources at our fingertips. We enjoy lakes, rivers, streams as well as an abundance of forested land areas that are home to a myriad of wildlife. Once they are damaged it will take years at the very least to repair the damage that so easily can be avoided by prudent planning.
We need to protect the natural resource values of our coastal watershed lands. To ensure a healthy environment into the future, it is essential that communities identify, retain, and protect the remaining undeveloped lands and waters. These are lands and waters that support the most important of the natural resource values and functions, as established by private individuals, municipalities, and local, regional and national land trusts.

What Happens in Milton does not necessarily stay in Milton. The Salmon Falls River flows directly through several Towns in Maine and New Hampshire. The Salmon Falls River joins the Cocheco River near Dover to form the Piscataqua River and then empties into Great Bay.

Milton is part of the Piscataqua region watershed. Many rivers in the region drain into the Great Bay estuary and ultimately flow into the Atlantic Ocean.

Estuaries, water bodies with at least one opening into the ocean, are prime habitats for a diverse range of plants and animal species. These coastal areas contain a mix of salt and fresh water, which combine to create a unique but fragile habitat for a wide array of wildlife. The Great Bay estuary is part of the National Estuary Program, recognized as an area in need of protection from man-made and natural pollutants because of its unique nature.

Clean water is a top priority for the communities in the region as seen by their continuous commitment in proposing new ordinances or amendments to existing regulations intended to protect water resources.

Tourism is New Hampshire's second-largest industry, behind manufacturing, and accounts for more than 60,000 jobs statewide. About 34 million visitors spent $4.6 billion in the state during fiscal year 2013, according to the latest data from the Institute for New Hampshire Studies at Plymouth State University. It estimates that 11 percent of that spending was the result of the tourism division's promotional activities and that every dollar spent by the division brought in $77 in spending by travelers. How many tourists will come to Milton to see our dump?

- Les Elder,
Milton NH

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