CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District is evaluating a Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) for vernal pools in Maine that will modify the way projects impacting some vernal pools are authorized under the Maine General Permit (GP). The Maine GP can be found at:

www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/StateGeneralPermits/MaineGeneralPermit.aspx.

General Condition 23 requires certain management practices for self-verification projects that affect vernal pools to ensure that activities authorized under the GP have no more than minimal adverse environmental effect. If the SAMP is approved, these practices will not be required for projects that take place within the SAMP area, meet its conditions, and are in a community which has adopted the requirements of the SAMP.

The Corps defines the SAMP process as a “comprehensive plan providing for natural resource protection and reasonable economic growth containing a detailed and comprehensive statement of policies, standards and criteria to guide public and private uses of lands and waters and mechanisms for timely implementation in specific geographic areas.”

The decision whether to approve a SAMP will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed SAMP on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit which may reasonably accrue from the SAMP must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments.

All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof, among those are: conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural value, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain value, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food production and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people.

The Corps is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, state and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed plan. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to sign the SAMP. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments also are used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.

The SAMP itself does not involve the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S. or the transportation of dredged material for the purpose of disposing it in ocean waters. However, it sets up a process to enable applicants to use an expedited process which also will improve the long-term management of vernal pools.  

The Corps public notice, with more detailed information, is available on the Corps website at:

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

Public comments on this proposed Special Area Management Plan for vernal pools in Maine that will modify the way projects impacting some vernal pools are authorized under the Maine General Permit (file # NAE 2016-00007) should be submitted no later than April 8, 2016 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.