CONCORD, Mass. –The Town of Jackman 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 the expansion of the existing runway at Newton Field Airport in Jackman, Maine.

This work is proposed in freshwater wetlands adjacent to the Moose River at Newton Field Airport in Jackman. The proposed work involves the filling of approximately 4.51 acres of freshwater wetlands and the clearing of another 0.61 acre of freshwater wetlands in conjunction with the expansion of the existing runway to allow Lifeflight of Maine fixed-wing aircraft to utilize the airport.

To compensate for the proposed project's unavoidable impacts to wetlands, the applicant proposes to make an In-Lieu­Fee payment to the Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program and to preserve 3 offsite parcels totaling 77 acres. The sites include approximately 51 acres of freshwater wetlands, 21 acres of adjacent upland, 3,500 feet of frontage on the Moose River and 2,700 feet of frontage on Heald Stream and 4 potential vernal pools. The compensation would be in place prior to the expansion of the facility.

The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps 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, with more specifics on the work proposed by the Town of Jackman, can be viewed on the Corps website at https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/PublicNotices/.

Public comments on this work proposed by the Town of Jackman (file # NAE-2002-00853-M4) should be forwarded no later than March 25, 2020 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office (ATTN: Shawn Mahaney), 442 Civic Center Drive, Suite 350, Augusta, Maine 04330. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Shawn Mahaney at 978-318-8492 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: shawn.b.mahaney@usace.army.mil.