PETITION FILED WITH MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO CONDUCT AN ADJUDCIATORY HEARING TO ESTABLISH WATER LEVEL REGIME FOR DYER LONG POND
Jefferson, Lincoln County
Pursuant to the Maine Dam Registration, Abandonment, and Water Level Act, 38 M.R.S. § 840(1), the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Department) will be conducting an adjudicatory hearing regarding the establishment of a water level regime for Dyer Long Pond in the Town of Jefferson. This proceeding is being initiated as a result of a petition filed with the Department by 35 littoral/riparian owners (petitioners) along Dyer Long Pond. The 35 petitioners represent more than 25 percent (25%) of the littoral or riparian proprietors of Dyer Long Pond. The water levels of Dyer Pond are controlled by a dam owned by Richard Saltonstall, III (dam owner) and operated by Richard Saltonstall and Robert Grady. As the issues set forth in the petition remain unresolved, the Department is proceeding with an adjudicatory hearing. The Commissioner delegated to Christina Hodgeman authority to serve as the Presiding Officer (or Hearing Officer) for purposes of carrying out the adjudicatory hearing on the matter.
The Department will conduct the public hearing in accordance with the provisions of the Maine Administrative Procedure Act (5 M.R.S.A. §§ 9051-9064) and the Department’s rules governing licensing and hearings (Chapters 2 and 3).
The purpose of the public hearing is to receive testimony from the parties and the general public for establishing a water level regime and, if applicable, minimum flow requirements for Dyer Long Pond. Testimony is limited to the statutory criteria set forth in the Maine Dam Registration, Abandonment, and Water Level Act, 38 M.R.S.A. § 840(4).
The public hearing will be on Thursday, June 7 at 1:00 P.M. at the Willow Grange Hall, 71 Washington Road Route 126, Jefferson, Maine. The entire hearing is open to the public. The daytime session will be devoted to receiving testimony from the petitioners and the owner of the dam.
The Department will hold an evening session on Thursday, June 7 at 6:00 P.M. at the Willow Grange Hall, 71 Washington Road Route 126, Jefferson, Maine for the purpose of receiving comments from members of the general public.
Comments on the petition may be submitted orally to the Department at the public hearing or in writing. Written comments may be mailed to: Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Attn: Kathy Howatt, 17 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0017 or by email at Kathy.Howatt@maine.gov.
The complete file on this matter is available for public review during normal business hours at the Department’s Augusta Office, 28 Tyson Drive, Augusta, Maine. A copy of the water level petition, as well as other materials is also available for review on the Department’s Dyer Long Pong Water Level Petition website:
http://www.maine.gov/dep/ftp/HYDRO/WaterLevelProjects/DyerLongPond/
For further information or to arrange to view the Department file, contact Department staff at the address above or by phone as follows: Kathy Howatt (207) 446-2642.
