Maine's Department of Transportation is looking for comments on its 200-page bypass report - primarily in the area of what's not in the report, what factors haven't been taken into consideration, or what impacts have not been included.

For those who haven't had a chance to look through the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with its bypass descriptions, maps, tables, and photos, the Wiscasset Public Library has five copies. Others are available at town offices.

Those who have computers can read it on line by logging onto www.wiscassetroute1corridor.com . The Web site includes the entire EIS, as well as a number of other categories.

The deadline for comments is Friday, December 21.

For those who wish to register comments, there is a category listed on the left side of the website, "Comments/Questions," which asks for information about the sender, whether the sender gives permission for comments and questions to be posted on the website, and a place to register comments and questions. There is another category, "Contact" which automatically pulls up an E-mail that can be sent to Carol Morris, who is handling communications for the project.

For those who would like to mail their comments, send them to Ed Hanscom, Wiscasset Corridor Study, MDOT, State House Station 16, Augusta, ME 04333.

For those who would like to post a comment for others to read, there is a category called "Community Questions," also labeled "Community Feedback." One of the comments included in this section is from former Wiscasset planner Dan Thompson, who now lives in South Bristol.

"Thank you for producing this well-considered approach," Thompson wrote. "I strongly support any approach that produces the best results for the most people and the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem, and at the same time, the regional economy. Further the effects of this study will go well beyond the immediate alignments being considered. Therefore, I applaud you including several towns not immediately on the routes themselves.

"After study of the documentation, I may have more comments; however, for the record, I do not and have not understood why more alignments were not considered more seriously. Nevertheless, these are the cards we have been dealt."

Colton Babcock from Newcastle writes, "There is broad-based community support for a bypass - any bypass - everywhere but Wiscasset, apparently. There may never be such support for a single route. MDOT should get input, make a decision, then just do it. You won't be able to find a route that pleases everyone."

Another Newcastle resident, John Stevens, writes, "It still makes no sense to me that a southern route is off the table. The Westport bridge was built to be part of the bypass and the resistance of the residents to a bridge is no longer as strong or valid as before. This option should be reexamined as it is shorter, less disruptive to the environment and ultimately less expensive to build."

This comment drew the following response from MDOT: "If you will look at Appendix A in the draft EIS, you will see details of the reasons the southern routes were discarded. A southern route may be shorter, but initial estimates showed it to be significantly more expensive than current options due to the type of bridge that would be required."

Susan and Jay Smith from Nobleboro wrote to say they own property, including the Edgecomb post office, which is in the line of fire for a Route 1-Route 27 interchange.

A Thomaston resident wrote, "For many years we have chosen to never shop in Wiscasset because they don't support a bypass. We know people who will drive to Gardiner to avoid the summer bottleneck. With the current emphasis on the environment, what a waste of gasoline. It will only get worse every year."

Talking to a member of the Midcoast Bypass Task Force is another way to register an opinion. This group was formed "to help guide MDOT and the Federal Highway Administration through the public comment period."

"Public participation is especially important in this process," the website says, "as the federal and state government's ability to successfully fund a bypass solution would depend on the communities' ability to agree on a route that most people will be willing to accept."

Members of the task force are former Wiscasset selectman Bill Barnes; Wiscasset town manager, Arthur Faucher; Wiscasset Transportation Committee Chairman Don Jones; Edgecomb selectman Jo Cameron; former Edgecomb planning board member Amanda Russell; Edgecomb Fire Chief Barry Johnson; Lincoln County planner Bob Faunce; Alna Planning Board chairman Doug Baston; Newcastle Selectman Lee Straw; Woolwich Selectman David King; Dave Bertran, Westport Island; Boothbay Selectman Ross Edwards; Boothbay Harbor Town Manager Tom Woodin; Boothbay Harbor Chamber of Commerce director Jaimie Logan; Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association director Leah Sprague; Chewonki Foundation president Don Hudson; Friends of Coastal Preservation president Norma Dreyfus of Westport Island; Assistant Director of Planning for MDOT, Dale Doughty; MDOT Transportation Analyst Ed Hanscom; and Peter Kleskovic, Assistant Division Administrator for the Maine Division of the Federal Highway Administration.

Other categories listed on the website include: Project Overview, Proposed Routes, FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), and Latest Information.