DMR has rarely been an active voice for seafood species health - let alone their greater supporting estuarine or oceanic ecosystems.
Their response to the latest dredging plan continues that anti-strategy:
DMR: "Typically, under the Natural Resources Protection Act, 38 MRSA 480-D (9), DMR must hold a hearing to determine the impacts of a proposed dredging operation on fishing in the area to be dredged and impacts to the fishing industry of the proposed route to transport the dredge spoils, if such action is requested by five or more persons.
DMR noticed this opportunity on July 2, and subsequently, the US Army Corps of Engineers determined that NRPA is not applicable, and therefore no state permit under NRPA is required.
This effectively ends DMR’s responsibility under 38 MRSA 480-D (9) and therefore the department will not hold a public hearing for this project.
If you wish to comment or participate in the USACE process, additional information may be obtained from Mr. Patrick McNamara, Project Manager for the Searsport Harbor dredge, email at nae-pn-nav@usace.army.mil or telephone at (978) 318-8673.
If you wish to comment or participate in the USACE process, additional information may be obtained from Mr. Patrick McNamara, Project Manager for the Searsport Harbor dredge, email at nae-pn-nav@usace.army.mil or telephone at (978) 318-8673.
