CONCORD, Mass. – The Appalachian Mountain Club of Greenville, Maine, is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. in conjunction with an Atlantic salmon rearing habitat enhancement project in Katahdin Iron Work, Twp., Maine. The work is proposed in the West Branch Pleasant River in Katahdin Iron Work, Twp.

The Appalachian Mountain Club proposes to place fill/structures below the ordinary high water line of the West Branch Pleasant River in Katahdin Iron Work, Twp., in conjunction with an Atlantic salmon rearing habitat enhancement project. The fill/structures consist of Post Assisted Log Structures (PALS). Fifteen PALS will be placed in the West Branch Pleasant River to enhance approximately 454 meters of the river.

This work may impact Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for Atlantic salmon. This habitat consists of stream bottom composed of mixed sand, gravel, cobble and boulders. Long-term impact to this species is expected to be minimal with appropriate erosion control measures, in stream work windows and other best management practices. Therefore, the Corps has made a preliminary determination that the site-specific adverse effect will be minimal. Further consultation with the federal resource agencies regarding EFH conservation recommendations is being conducted and will be concluded prior to the final permit decision. Similarly, consultation will be initiated regarding the presence of salmon as they are a federally listed endangered species.

The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps of Engineers in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. The public notice can be viewed at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments referencing this permit request by the Appalachian Mountain Club (File # NAE-2017-1739) should be forwarded no later than Aug. 8, 2017 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office (ATTN: Shawn Mahaney), 675 Western Ave., #3, Manchester, Maine 04351. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Shawn Mahaney at 207-623-8367 or 978-318-8492 or by email to shawn.b.mahaney@usace.army.mil.