Pursuant to 38 M.R.S. §480-D, sub-§9, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is required to provide the Maine Department of Environmental Protection with an assessment of the impacts on the fishing industry of proposed dredging operations. The Maine Port Authority, in cooperation with the City of Portland and the Maine Department of Transportation, is proposing to dredge around the International Marine Terminal pier face and bulkhead in order to remove sedimentation to improve berthing. The proposed dredging will remove approximately 7,722 cubic yards of sand/silt, marine clay, and scattered debris. The proposed dredge depth is to -35 feet Mean Lower Low Water with a 1 foot overdredge. The dredge area is about 42,945 square feet or .99 acres. This material is proposed to be mechanically dredged using barge mounted equipment and transported by barge to the Portland Harbor Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD) cell. The dredging operation is expected to occur between November 2025 and March 2026.
DMR will accept verbal and written comments about the potential impacts on fishing in the area to be dredged and impacts to the fishing industry of the proposed route to transport the dredge spoils. If 5 or more persons request a public hearing prior to May 31, 2025, DMR will hold a hearing. Comments should be sent to DMR at the email or mailing address listed below by 5:00 pm, May 31, 2025.
Department of Marine Resources, Attn: Environmental Permit Review, 21 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333 or email: EnvironmentalReview.DMR@maine.gov
A copy of this notice with maps of proposed haul route and dredge envelope are available here.