The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) will hold a public hearing to take evidence on the lease application for Pleasant Cove Oyster Farm. This pre-hearing is being offered remotely and in-person. The schedule of all proceedings (including the hearing) is also included below. Please carefully review each date and event as some have important deadlines that may impact participation in the proceeding.

Applicant Name and Lease Type: Pleasant Cove Oyster Farm, Standard Lease

Culture Type: Suspended culture (Gear on bottom and/or suspended)

Species: Shellfish

General Location, Town: Pleasant Cove, Damariscotta River, Boothbay

Acreage Requested: 6.26 acres

Lease Term Requested: 20 years

July 6, 2022 at 10:00 a.m., Remote Pre-hearing Conference:

This meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams to discuss the general administration of the hearing including the pre-filing of evidence, testimony time limits, and other considerations. This meeting is recommended for those who intend to apply for intervenor status. To participate, you must register no later than 12:00 p.m. on July 5, 2022. Please register for the pre-hearing conference at this link.

July 12, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., Deadline to Register to Participate in the Hearing and Apply for Intervenor Status:

A. Registering to Participate: Anyone wishing to attend the hearing remotely or in-person is asked to register. Persons intending to ask questions of the parties or testify about the proposed lease ("Interested Persons") must register with DMR to participate in this manner. Interested persons must register no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 12, 2022. Failure to register may limit your ability to participate in the proceeding. Please register for the hearing at this link. Persons who are unable to register online or need assistance with the form must contact DMR.

B. Applying for Intervenor Status: Intervenor applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 12, 2022. Intervenor applications must be requested from DMR at the contact information below. DMR will decide whether to grant intervenor applications five days before the hearing. If you apply for and are granted intervenor status, you become a legal party to the proceeding.

July 27, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., Hearing:

The hearing will be held at the date and time listed above at:

Department of Marine Resources Building

194 McKown Point Road, West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575.

If the hearing is postponed or continued it may be held at the same time and location listed above on July 28, 2022. Notice of a postponement or continuance will be posted to DMRs website.

The hearing will be held in accordance with the adjudicatory proceeding provisions of the Maine Administrative Procedures Act (5 M.R.S.A., ch. 375, subchapter 4). Any interested person may attend the hearing and registered participants may ask questions of the parties or testify about the effect of the proposed lease.

Address questions to:

Maine Department of Marine Resources

Attn: Aquaculture Division

21 State House Station

Augusta, ME 04333-0021

(207) 624-6573

[email protected]

For disability accommodations, contact Melissa Macaluso at: (207) 624-6553, [email protected] or 877-243-2823, TTY 711