CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District is evaluating a Special Area Management Plan for vernal pools (VP SAMP) in Maine and as part of that evaluation will hold a public information meeting on May 12, 2016 in Augusta, Maine.

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.” In Maine, a VP SAMP is being considered that will modify the way projects impacting some vernal pools are authorized. Within communities that formally adopt the requirements of the VP SAMP, developers proposing to impact vernal pools who agree to meet the VP SAMP’s conditions, will face diminished regulatory burdens. 

The public information meeting will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2016 from 1 – 4 p.m. in the Maine Municipal Association’s (MMA) auditorium at 60 Community Drive in Augusta, Maine. Anyone interested in participating in or listening to a discussion of the proposed program is welcome to attend. 

The Maine VP SAMP will improve the agencies’ capacity to protect the natural resource functions and values of vernal pools while supporting municipal goals for growth. The Maine VP SAMP supports municipal growth by allowing vernal pool impacts in designated growth areas in exchange for conservation activities in designated rural areas on a 2 pool: 1 pool programmatic ratio. The Maine VP SAMP promotes meaningful conservation of vernal pools and surrounding habitat by applying landscape level conservation principles and assessment criteria to identify conservation targets in rural areas.

The decision whether to approve the VP 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 VP 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 information that includes directions to the public information meeting, is available on the Corps website at: www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

More information is available from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Ruth Ladd), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751; or by contacting 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.