The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, is seeking public comments on 25 projects which have applied for 2013 funding through Maine’s In-Lieu Fee program, the Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program. The sponsor for the program is the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
The In-Lieu Fee program serves as an alternative form of compensation for impacts to aquatic resources authorized by the New England District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and/or the state of Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
These projects were submitted in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued in July 2013. The RFP includes the criteria used to evaluate projects, the information required for a proposal, and other related information.
Any of the projects which involve restoration, enhancement, and/or creation will require Corps, state, or local permits and will be applying individually.
The decision whether to approve funding for projects will be based on an evaluation of each proposed activity and how and where it will compensate for aquatic resources lost through authorizations issued under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. The decision will reflect the national concern for no net loss of aquatic resources.
The Corps is seeking comments from the public; federal, state and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested groups in order to determine the most appropriate projects to receive funding from the MNRCP. Any comments received will be considered by the Interagency Review Committee, including the Corps of Engineers, and will be considered in the evaluation of the projects and the determination of which will receive funding. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors.
Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Comments also are used to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
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Press Release, November 20, 2013