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Jan 30, 2019

Nordic told by DEP: prove you have outfall pipe right of way into Penobscot Bay.

Maine DEP has reacted to the joint submission by Upstream Watch and Maine Lobstering Union challenging Nordic's application as fatally inaccurate by ordering Nordic to show otherwise. Can they?

The two NGOs had written  to the Board of Environmental that the Nordic application is  "fatally flawed and must be dismissed for lack of title, right or Interest (“TRI”). Nordic’s deficiencies in TRI are fatal and incurable ..."
Two of the points UW'S attorneys  David Losee and Kim Ervin Tucker are arguing: (that DEP finds credible - see below)
1. Nordic and DEP failed to include Northport in its review process despite the outfall pipe passing through several private Northport properties.

2. Nordic does not have permission from the Northport property owners whose land the pipeline would have to pass through.  Nor any right, title or interest in those properties.

Ergo, Uptream Watch observed, as Nordic cannot access Penobscot Bay with its pipelines, it cannot operate a land based aquaculture operation from the Belfast site. Therefore the application must be rejected.

DEP's  Brian Kavanah Acting Co-Director, Bureau of Water Quality wrote a terse letter  to Nordic Aquafarms  stating that 
" In light of recently received evidence that the Department has determined to be credible, the Department is requesting further information regarding 1) the location of the structures associated with the Nordic Aquafarms MEDPES application, including all portions of the outfall pipe from the proposed facility, and 2) the applicant’s title, right or interest (TRI) in the area proposed to be developed or used. The Department requests all such information be submitted no later than February 6, 2019." (end excerpt)

"Location of the structures" because Nordic has insisted it's all in Belfast, but the revised application shows  a goodly bit of the obligate pipeline locations  within Northport.  Makes it wrong for them to have moved ahead without including that town in the review .
"Title, right or interest (TRI)" because, lacking those, it cannot operate its proposed RAS salmon tankfarm.

What will Nordic's response be? 





Jan 29, 2019

Maine Marine Resource Commissioner gets legislative thumbs up to continue in job. AUDIO

At the urging of most of Maine's fishery and aquaculture interests, the Legislature's Marine Resources Committee gave current commissioner Pat Keliher  unanimous support for his continuation in the Mills Administration as Maine 's commissioner of Marine resources.  Listen below to his nomination statement and  a selection of the questions and praise Keliher received from  fishermen and aquaculturists (More to come)

Commissioner's Statement 6min

Rep Mick Devin, MR Committee member 5min47sec

Patrice McCarron Maine Lobstermen's Association 4min 12sec

Fiona DeKoning of  Hollander & de Köning 3min 18sec

Sebastian Bell, Maine Aquaculture Association, 2min

Jan 15, 2019

Incoming Maine legislators briefed by Dept of Island Fish & Wildlife AUDIO

Judy Camuso
Listen to an array of the Maine Dept of Inland Fish and Wildlife's leaders briefing the legislature's Inland Fish and Wild Committee, Jan 14, 2019. Audio MP3s

They described their roles conserving our state's freshwater fishes, our bears, deer, porcupines - all fresh water breathers amphibians and upland wildlife actually, in addition to running Maine's eight hatcheries  In addition, IFW licenses/oversees thousands of recreational hunters and fishers throughout the state. 

Committee members had plenty of questions too.
Joel Wilkinson

Judy Camuso acting Commissioner of Inland Fish and Wildlife 11min 45sec

Tim Peabody, acting Dep Commissioner 1min 45sec

Christl Theriault. Legislative Liaison 3min

Joel Wilkinson, Chief Game Warden. 11min

Jim Connolly, Bureau of Resource Management.12min 30sec

Joe Overlock, supervisor Fisheries Management. 6min 30sec
Emily Maccabe, IFW media

Emily Mccabe Graphics and media supervisor. 4min 14sec

Bill Swann, director Licensing and Registration. 13min 278sec

Jan 12, 2019

Public Banking the facts and the money industry's falsehoods

Randall Parr is spearheading  public banking  Background theme Mozart

Parr's self-description of his background

Here is a link to  his latest update  36min  A  rebuttal of fallacious testimony at past public bank hearings.

Jan 8, 2019

Rockland City Council briefed on new Comp Plan progress. Audio.

On December 5, 2018  consultant Noel Musson  of the Musson Group gave an 11 minute presentation on his progress on  a new comprehensive plan, then took 6 minutes of questions and statements by councilors about the project


Musson & Council Q&A  6min 33sec (two questions from Councilors

Jan 4, 2019

Rockland Hbr Mgmt Commissioners hear from consultant on Harbor mgmt plan

On December 18th Consultant Noel Musson gave a presentation to Rockland's Harbor Management Commission, reporting his progress with the ad hoc harbor mgmt plan committee
Note  you can also watch these events at https://livestream.com/rocklandmaine

Part 1. Musson presentation 16min

Part 2. Musson presentation 18min

Part 3 Musson presentation 25min

Part 4 Musson presentation & QA 25min33sec