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The Maine Submerged Lands Leasing Program, managed by Dan Prichard at the Bureau of Parks and Lands, offers leasing opportunities for structural developments in public submerged lands, covering tidal waters to a 3-mile limit. Key provisions include leases up to 30 years for piers, marinas, dredging, and aquaculture projects with strict boundary requirements. The program ensures minimal impact on marine navigation and public trust uses, guiding proposals through a thorough review process involving multiple state agencies. For inquiries, contact Dan Prichard at 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME.
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Submerged Lands Leasing Program Dan Prichard Bureau of Parks and Lands Department of Conservation
Public submerged lands • Tidal waters to 3-mile limit • boundary rivers • great ponds
mean low water line natural low water line
Leases and Easements • Leasing limited to structural development and associated berthing areas, dredging, and fill projects (piers, marinas, pipelines, cables). • Permanent structures of any size, and seasonal structures >500 sq.ft. or 2000 sq.ft. for commercial fishing uses. • 30-year term • Exempt Uses: • Smaller seasonal structures • Moorings • Harbor Improvements by the Federal Gov’t. • Aquaculture projects approved by DMR
Review Process • Notice to Town Office, Harbormaster, DMR, DEP or LURC, & Abutters • Initial review period in cooperation with DEP, DMR, ACE, and Municipality • Seek additional information and public meeting as needed • Issue Preliminary Findings • Reconsideration period • Final Findings and Decision
Littoral Boundaries and Setbacks • Littoral boundary is a 90 degree projection from shoreline at property boundary. • Structures must be 25 feet from littoral boundaryand 50 feet from adjacent structuresunless used in conjunction with those structures. • Exceptions allowed where no reasonable alternative exists, and there is no unreasonable impact on public trust uses.
Approval Criteria • The Bureau may grant a lease if the proposal will not unreasonably impact: • navigation • fishing and other marine uses in the area • the availability of services and facilities necessary for commercial marine activities • ingress and egress of riparian owners The project must also meet all federal, state, and local permitting requirements and not otherwise contrary to the public interest. A lease is not a permit. It is contract to use public lands.
Contact • Dan PrichardBureau of Parks and LandsSubmerged Lands Program22 State House StationAugusta, ME 04333 • Email: dan.prichard@maine.gov • Web site:www.maine.gov/doc/parks