CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District has listed the projects approved for funding between 2009 and 2018 through the Maine’s In-Lieu Fee program, the Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program (MNRCP). The sponsor for the program is the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The public can submit comments on these projects approved for funding through the Maine ILF Program through June 13, 2019.

The In-Lieu Fee (ILF) 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) each year since 2009 and were recommended by the program’s Review Committee and approved by the Approval Committee.

A general description of each project is provided in a draft amendment to the ILF instrument. Details on these projects, such as their mitigation plans, are available on the Corps’ on-line Regulatory In-lieu fee and Bank Information Tracking System (RIBITS): https://ribits.usace.army.mil/ribits_apex/f?p=107:2.

The Corps is soliciting comments from the public, federal, state, and local agencies and officials, Indian Tribes, and other interested parties. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps as it continues to implement the ILF program in cooperation with the Maine DEP.

All comments will be considered a matter of public record. Copies of comment letters will be forwarded to the sponsor and the Interagency Review Team consisting of representatives of the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Department of Marine Resources, Maine Department of Conservation, and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The Corps public notice, with more information on the projects approved for funding in the Maine ILF Program, is available on the Corps website at: https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/PublicNotices/.

All In-Lieu Fee agreements in New England are available for review on the Corps website at

https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Mitigation/In-Lieu-Fee-Programs/.

Public comments on these projects which have been approved for funding through the Maine In-Lieu Fee Program, the Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program (file # NAE 2005-1143) should be submitted in writing no later than June 13, 2019 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Ruth Ladd), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. For additional information contact Ruth Ladd at 978-318-8818 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to ruth.m.ladd@usace.army.mil.