DESIGNATION: TITLE: ABSTRACT: APPLICANT: LEAD AGENCY: Draft Environmental Impact Statement Proposed Estuarine Sanctuary Grant Award to the State of The Maine State Planning Office has applied for a grant Machias Bay, in extreme eastern Maine, is a relatively The site is characterized by relatively unpolluted air The purpose of this proposed sanctuary would be to maintain Machias Bay as it is now--a healthy, productive, unpolluted, natural system for research and education purposes. The sanctuary's research and education programs would provide useful information for coastal zone management decisionmakers. In establishing the estuarine sanctuary, Maine would not exercise its power of eminent domain (condemnation) to acquire any land. Acquisition would occur only through negotiation with voluntary sellers and would be performed in accordance with Federal regulations for real estate acquisition, including an independent appraisal, and the offer of fair market value. Multiple use of the sanctuary would be permitted to the The Maine State Planning Office U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Coastal Zone Management .45 (2) County Residents ... (3) Scientific and Educational 3. Unavoidable Adverse Environmental or 4. 5. Socioeconomic Effects...... Relationship Between Short-Term Uses of the Irreversible or Irretrievable Commitment of 6. Possible Conflicts Between the Proposed Action Federal and Regional Plans b. State Plans 45 .46 .46 .46 ....46 ...47 .49 c. Local Plans W LIST OF AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND PERSONS RECEIVING How Existing State Laws Protect the Maine Coast......77 BACKGROUND In August 1980, the Maine State Planning Office sent a letter to coastal towns informing them of the opportunity of acquiring Coastal Natural Areas for research and education through the National Estuarine Sanctuary Program. Over 75 towns, individual landowners and conservation groups responded by nominating more than 30 areas for the Coastal Natural Areas Program. The State Planning Office (SPO) formed a Coastal Natural Areas Selection Committee to advise the SPO on the program's direction and the selection of candidate areas. The committee, composed of a wide variety of coastal citizens, educators, researchers, and conservationists, developed criteria by which coastal natural areas would be selected and proposed to NOAA as estuarine sanctuary sites. The committee determined that a multiple-site estuarine sanctuary should be established in Maine to represent the diversity of types of estuaries in the State. Three sites were selected to propose to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as one estuarine sanctuary representing sub-types of the Arcadian biogeographic region. These are: a portion of the Machias Bay in Machiasport, a portion of the Marsh River in Newcastle, and a portion of the Drakes Island-Laudholm area in the Town of Wells. Machias Bay is the only site being considered by NOAA for acquisition funds at this time. The Machias Bay site is an example of the cold water, rocky island studded estuaries with moderately high tidal ranges found in the eastern part of the State. Machias Bay is an important habitat for bald eagles ospreys, eider ducks, and Atlantic Salmón ás well as many other species. Only the Machias Bay site is being actively pursued under the current grant application to NOAA. S The Marsh River area is a warm water, marshy, upper estuarine area with considerable fresh water at certain times of the year. It includes one of only two oyster beds in Maine and is an important habitat for a number of waterfowl species, Atlantic Salmon, and striped bass. The Drakes Island-Laudholm area is an example of the barrier beach, marsh and glacial upland system, which dominates the southern Maine coast. It is particularly important for a number of waterfowl species and a variety of shorebirds. The National Estuarine Sanctuary Program was established by Congress as part of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-583), as amended, to assist States through matching grants to acquire and manage estuarine areas for long-term research that will provide data over time to improve the coastal management decisionmaking process. A second objective of this Federal program is to educate students of all ages and the general public to appreciate the intrinsic value of estuaries and the necessity of maintaining their environmental quality and productivity. An estuarine sanctuary, as defined in the Federal program guidelines, is an ecological unit comprising more than a body of water. It may include transitional areas adjacent to the estuary, as well as wetland or upland areas that drain into the water body. |