Aquaculture Public Hearing - Heron Island Oyster Company

Date: March 14, 2024

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location: Department of Marine Resources, 194 McKown Point Road

Town: West Boothbay Harbor

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is holding a public hearing on the standard lease proposal listed below. Please carefully review the schedule of the proceeding as there is an important deadline regarding participation. 

Applicant Name: Heron Island Oyster Company

Culture Type: Bottom and Suspended Culture of Oysters

Location: Damariscotta River, Fitch Cove

Acreage and Term Requested: 1.0 acres for 20 years

 

Schedule of proceeding:

1. Registering to Participate and Apply for Intervenor Status

A.  Registration: Anyone wishing to attend the hearing is asked to register. Persons intending to ask questions of the parties or testify about the proposed lease (“Interested Persons”) must register with DMR to participate in this manner.  Failure to register will limit your ability to participate in the proceeding.  Persons who are unable to register online or need assistance with the form must contact DMR.

B. Intervening: Intervenor applications must be requested from DMR at the contact information below. DMR will decide whether to grant intervenor status five days before the hearing. If you are granted intervenor status, you become a legal party to the proceeding.

The deadline to register is 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2024. Applications to intervene must also be received by this date and time.

2. Hearing

The hearing will be held in-person as follows:  

March 14, 2024

Department of Marine Resources      

194 McKown Point Road

                  West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575                   

 

The hearing will begin at 1:00 pm.

If the hearing listed above is postponed or continued, it will be held on March 21, 2024, at the same time, location, and format.  Notice of a postponement or a continuance will be posted on DMR’s website.

The hearing will be conducted in accordance with the adjudicatory proceeding provisions of the Maine Administrative Procedure Act (5 M.R.S.A., ch. 375, subchapter 4).  Any interested person may attend the hearing and registered participants may ask questions of the parties or testify about the application.

Registration is available at: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=q6g_QX0gYkubzeoajy-GTmNMr8clQQtDi8znCHA0RwpUOFFCVUU0UUlWSjZSTlVWNFBBRjdNQzVDNyQlQCN0PWcu

The application is posted to DMR’s aquaculture webpage under “Pending Lease Applications.”

 

Address questions to:

Maine Department of Marine Resources

Attn:  Aquaculture Division

21 State House Station

Augusta, ME 04333-0021

DMRaquaculture@maine.gov

 

For disability accommodations, contact:   (207) 624-6553, or 877-243-2823, TTY 711

 

RELEVANT AUTHORITY:  The rules governing the leasing program are found in Chapter 2 of DMR regulations.  The statutory provisions are: 5 M.R.S.A. §9051 et seq. & 12 M.R.S.A. §6072(1) et seq., & 12 M.R.S.A. §6072-A(1) et seq.