CONCORD, Mass. – The Bill Dodge Autogroup, Inc. is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the United States in conjunction with construction at an existing business park in Westbrook, Maine.

The Bill Dodge Autogroup, Inc., proposes to fill approximately 64,738 square feet (1.49 acres) of freshwater wetlands off of Saunders Way in Westbrook in order to construct paved parking/vehicle storage areas for adjacent automobile dealerships with associated landscaping, utilities and stormwater management of Lots 9 and 10 of an existing business park.

To compensate for the project’s unavoidable indirect impacts to aquatic resources, the permit applicant is proposing a contribution to the Maine Natural Resources Mitigation Fund (In Lieu Fee Program). The

applicant is proposing these measures seeking to lessen the project’s impact on aquatic resources.  

The proposed project is located in freshwater wetlands adjacent to the Fore River in Westbrook, Maine. 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 United States waters, including wetlands.

The public notice, with additional information, can be viewed on the Corps website at

http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed activity on the public interest.

Public comments referencing this permit request by the Bill Dodge Autogroup, Inc. (File # NAE-2002-02264) should be forwarded no later than Feb. 28, 2014 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office (ATTN: Jay Clement), 675 Western Ave., #3, Manchester, Maine 04351. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Jay Clement at 207-623-8367 or by email to jay.l.clement@usace.army.mil.