N O T I C E   T O   F I S H E R M E N

Notice of Public Comment Regarding Fishing Industry Impacts of Proposed Private Maintenance Dredge Project, Biddeford Pool

Pursuant to 38 M.R.S. §480-D, sub-§9, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is required to provide the Maine Department of Environmental Protection with an assessment on the impacts to the fishing industry of a proposed dredging operation. The Biddeford Pool Yacht Club (BPYC) has submitted a Natural Resource Protection Act permit application to dredge approximately 4,222 cubic yards of sediment in Biddeford Pool. The BPYC property is developed with a clubhouse, storage, ramps, floats and moorings. The area is utilized for recreational and commercial waterfront activities. BPYC proposes a box cut dredge to a depth of – 7 feet MLW and encompasses approximately 21,667 square feet dredge area. BPYC received approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dispose of the sediment at the Cape Arundel Disposal Site (CADS). A total of 8-10 trips by a disposal barge will be made to the CADS during the dredging project.

DMR will accept written comments about the potential impacts of the proposed dredging operation on fishing in the area to be dredged and on impacts to the fishing industry of the proposed route to transport dredge spoils to the disposal site. Written comments need to be submitted by 5pm on May 21, 2020. Comments should be sent to Amanda Ellis at the email or mailing address listed below.

Department of Marine Resources, Attn: Amanda Ellis, 21 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333; tel.: (207) 624-6573 or email: dmr.rulemaking@maine.gov.

General questions about the project may be directed to Denis Marc-Nault at 207-592-0521 or denis-marc.nault@maine.gov