July 2, 2018 @ 6:00 p.m.
Newcastle Fire Station
86 River Road
Newcastle, ME 04553
The Department of Marine Resources will hold a public hearing on the application of Pemaquid Oyster Company, Inc. for an 8.33, 10-year, aquaculture lease located in the Damariscotta River, Damariscotta and Newcastle, Maine, for bottom culture of American/Eastern oyster, European oysters, hard clams, Atlantic surf clams, and razor clams. Other compatible uses of the site would be permitted. At the hearing, the Department will take evidence relating to the criteria for granting a lease as listed in 12 M.R.S. §6072(7-A) and DMR Rule Chapter 2.37, including the effect of the proposed lease upon riparian owners’ shore access, navigation, fishing, ecology, and other uses of the area.
ALTERNATE HEARING DATE: If the July 2, 2018 hearing is postponed or cannot be concluded by a reasonable hour, the hearing will be continued on July 9, 2018 at 6:00 pm at the same location, and a notice will be posted at http://www.maine.gov/dmr/index.html, under “Meetings”.
INFORMATION ON DMR WEBSITE: See the Department of Marine Resources’ website, http://www.maine.gov/dmr/aquaculture/leases/pending/index.html the lease application and DMR site report. Under “Public Participation in Aquaculture Leasing,” the following are posted: lease criteria, hearing procedures, and suggestions for effective public participation in the hearing. For paper copies, contact DMR at the address below.
WRITTEN COMMENTS: DMR will accept written comments by mail, e-mail, or fax regarding the effect of the proposed lease until 5:00 pm on June 29, 2018.
SPEAKING AT THE HEARING: Any interested person may attend the hearing and ask questions of the parties or testify under oath about the effect of the proposed lease. You do not need to be an intervenor to submit comments or testimony.
INTERVENING: You may testify at the hearing without becoming an intervenor. If the proposed lease will substantially and directly affect you, you can apply for intervenor status. If DMR grants you intervenor status, you become a legal party and will receive all subsequent correspondence and can comment on the draft decision. Intervenor application forms are available at http://www.maine.gov/dmr/aquaculture/forms/standard.html. Applications to intervene are due at DMR no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 18, 2018. The Department will decide whether to grant intervenor applications no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 20, 2018.
Address comments, intervenor applications, and questions to:
Mail: Maine Department of Marine Resources
Attn:
Aquaculture Hearing Officer
21 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0021
(207) 624-6567
E-mail: to both: amanda.ellis@maine.gov AND cindy.l.burke@maine.gov
For disability accommodations, contact Kathy Weymouth
(207)287-7578, TTY (207) 287-4474, kathy.weymouth@maine.gov
Authority: 5 MRS §9501 et seq. & 12 MRS §6072
