Consultation and Coordination with

Others

■ 1995-1998 Environmental Impact Statement for Protecting Maine

Coastal Nesting Islands and Managing Petit Manan Refuge

■ 1999-2003 Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental

Impact Statement for Petit Manan Refuge Complex

Chapter 5

Public meeting

USFWS photo
Chapter 5

5-2 Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Outreach activity: Newsletters: Issues Workbook (October 1995)

Purpose: To collect people’s ideas, thoughts and concerns regarding

important issues associated with Maine coastal nesting islands

Number of non-Service participants: 1,100 copies of workbook distributed either through mailings or handed out at Public Open Houses; 140

completed workbooks were returned

Audience: Any individual, group, Federal or State agency interested in

Maine coastal nesting islands

Topics discussed: The Issues Workbook newsletter was a series of questions directed to readers to solicit comments on what they value most

about the islands, their vision for the future of the islands, and the

Service’s role in helping to protect them.

Outreach activity: Four public forums

Purpose: To promote protection of Maine coastal islands

Number of non-Service participants: 250

Audience: Meetings were co-sponsored by the Service and 33 conservation groups; invitees included seabird experts, aquaculture and fishery

industry representatives, land trust representatives, and local agency

officials

Topics discussed: To discuss the significance of Maine coastal islands,

and to solicit input on what people value about these islands and what they

think should be done to protect them

Outreach activity: Six public Open House meetings; Ellsworth, Machias,

Rockport, Brunswick, Wells, and Augusta, ME

Purpose: To let people know what the Service was doing and share what

we have learned with regards to Maine coastal nesting islands, and to

solicit input on what people value about these islands and what they think

should be done to protect them.

Number of non-Service participants: 60

Audience: Any interested public, organization, State or Federal agency

personnel

1995-1998 Environmental Impact Statement for

Protecting Maine Coastal Nesting Islands and

Managing Petit Manan Refuge

October 1995

Summer-Fall 1995

November 1995
Consultation and Coordination with Others

Draft CCP/EIS - April, 2004 5-3

Topics discussed: Biological information describing the importance of

wildlife and habitats on Maine coastal islands, current island protection

efforts, and potential future protection by the Service, State agencies,

National Park Service, and conservation organizations.

Outreach activity: Newsletter; summary of Issues Workbook Responses

Purpose: To share the comments received from the Issues Workbooks

Number of non-Service participants: 1,100 entries on the mailing list

Audience: Any individual, group, Federal or State agency interested in

Maine coastal nesting islands

Topics discussed: A summary of the 140 workbooks received

Outreach activity: 2-day facilitated workshop

Purpose: To work with stakeholders and identify potential management

actions and strategies for protecting, managing, and restoring coastal

nesting islands

Number of non-Service participants: 24

Audience: Participants included island owners, local land trusts, conservation organizations, town officials, sea kayaking companies, tour boat

operators, representatives from the aquaculture industry, property rights

supporters, and State and Federal agencies.

Topics discussed: The latest information gathered on seabird, wading

bird, and eagle populations and current island ownership and protection

status. Also discussed was the results of public scoping, including the

main issues identified. Work groups were formed to identify potential

management actions and strategies available for protecting, managing, and

restoring coastal nesting islands.

May 1996

May 1996
Chapter 5

5-4 Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Outreach activity: Briefing paper and presentation for Gulf of Maine

Ecosystem Team

Purpose: To describe why a new planning process was started, provide an

overview of the CCP process, identify the potential issues to be addressed,

the requirement for a wilderness review, and State involvement, and to

solicit input as to what additional issues, concerns, and opportunities to

address.

Number of non-Service participants: 20

Audience: Interagency (Federal and State) Gulf of Maine Ecosystem

Team

Topics discussed: CCP process, the range of potential issues to be addressed in the CCP, specific issues the CCP team has already identified,

potential Refuge Complex expansion, potential wilderness designation,

MDIFW involvement.

Outreach activity: Newsletter; request for involvement in planning

process

Purpose: To notify interested individuals, organizations and State and

Federal agencies that we initiated the CCP process (a new start from the

1995-1998 effort); share some preliminary issues identified by the CCP

team, and invite them to the public Open Houses in Augusta (April) and in

along the coast (June)

Number of non-Service participants: 1,500 entries on mailing list

Audience: Any interested public, organization, State or Federal agency

personnel

Topics discussed: The Open House meeting dates, preliminary issues

identified by the team, and requests for comments on land acquisition and

wilderness designation.

Outreach activity: Public Open House; Augusta, ME

Purpose: To provide an overview of the CCP process and solicit input as

to what public issues, concerns, and opportunities to address

Number of non-Service participants: 25

1999-2003 Comprehensive Conservation Plan and

Environmental Impact Statement for Petit Manan

Refuge Complex

February 2000

March 24, 2000

April 12, 2000
Consultation and Coordination with Others

Draft CCP/EIS - April, 2004 5-5

Audience: Any interested public, organization, State or Federal agency

personnel

Topics discussed: CCP process, the range of potential issues to be addressed in the CCP, specific issues the CCP team has already identified,

potential Refuge Complex expansion, potential wilderness designation.

Outreach activity: Newsletter; request for involvement in planning

process

Purpose: To notify (remind) interested individuals, organizations and

State and Federal agencies that we started the CCP process; share some

preliminary issues identified by the CCP team, and invite them to the

public Open Houses later in the month

Number of non-Service participants: 1,500 entries on mailing list

Audience: Any interested public, organization, State or Federal agency

personnel

Topics discussed: The June Open House meeting dates, preliminary issues

identified by the team, and requests for comments on land acquisition and

wilderness designation.

Outreach activity: Public Open House; Milbridge, ME

Purpose: To provide an overview of the CCP process and solicit input as

to what public issues, concerns, and opportunities to address

Number of non-Service participants: 45

Audience: Any interested public, organization, State or Federal agency

personnel

Topics discussed: CCP process, the range of potential issues to be addressed in the CCP, specific issues the CCP team has already identified,

potential Refuge Complex expansion, potential wilderness designation.

Outreach activity: Public Open House; Rockport, ME

Purpose: To provide an overview of the CCP process and solicit input as

to what public issues, concerns, and opportunities to address

Number of non-Service participants: 8

Audience: Any interested public, organization, State or Federal agency

personnel

Topics discussed: CCP process, the range of potential issues to be addressed in the CCP, specific issues the CCP team has already identified,

potential Refuge Complex expansion, potential wilderness designation.

June 2000

June 27, 2000

June 28, 2000
Chapter 5

5-6 Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Outreach activity: Public Open House; Brunswick, ME

Purpose: To provide an overview of the CCP process and solicit input as

to what public issues, concerns, and opportunities to address

Number of non-Service participants: 11

Audience: Any interested public, organization, State or Federal agency

personnel

Topics discussed: CCP process, the range of potential issues to be addressed in the CCP, specific issues the CCP team has already identified,

potential Refuge Complex expansion, potential wilderness designation.

Outreach activity: Newsletter; summary of public scoping comments

Purpose: To notify interested individuals, organizations and State and

Federal agencies of the results of our initial public scoping; share the list

of significant issues to be addressed in the CCP team, and to present the

next steps in the process, including developing alternatives and a wilderness review

Number of non-Service participants: 1,390 entries on mailing list

Audience: Any interested public, organization, State or Federal agency

personnel

Topics discussed: The Open House meeting dates, preliminary issues

identified by the team, and requests for comments on land acquisition and

wilderness designation.

Outreach activity: Meeting with partners at Refuge Complex Rockport

Office

Purpose: Discussions on developing a Project Identification Document

(PID) for a mid-coast Environmental Education Center

Number of non-Service participants: 6

Audience: Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Maine Audubon Society, National

Audubon Society, Maine Island Trails Association, Maine Bureau of

Public Lands, Coastal Mountains Land Trust, interested individual

Topics discussed: a vision for environmental education in the mid-Coast

area, each organizations respective role in that vision, local resources

available, the components of a PID, and discussions on an interpretive

philosophy, mission and goals, building and site needs, and some general

interpretive themes.

June 29, 2000

November 2000

May 2, 2001
Consultation and Coordination with Others

Draft CCP/EIS - April, 2004 5-7

Outreach activity: Open House/Public Information Meeting at Camden

Hills Regional High School, Rockport

Purpose: To solicit feedback from the general public on ideas for a midcoast environmental education center, and to describe the PID process

Number of non-Service participants: 8

Audience: General public

Topics discussed: Concepts of a mid-coast environmental education

center, ideas for location and building needs, the components of a PID.

Outreach activity: Information meeting with Congresspersons

Purpose: To inform Senators Snowe and Collins and Representative Allen

of issues at all three Maine National Wildlife Refuges: Petit Manan Refuge Complex, Rachel Carson Refuge, and Moosehorn Refuge

Number of non-Service participants: 3

Audience: Dan Demerrit, Legislative Assistant for Senator Collins; Ginny

Worrest, Legislative Assistant for Senator Snowe; and, Shawna Friedman,

Legislative Assistant for Representative Allen.

Topics discussed: Current issues faced by all 3 refuges in Maine, including: visitor facilities, invasive plant control, wetland restoration, threatened and endangered species, funding for land acquisition, and Comprehensive Conservation Planning. An update on the Petit Manan CCP was

provided, including the alternatives for land acquisition. Handouts on the

CCP process, and CCP planning update newsletters (June 2001 Congressional Update) were left with the staffers.

Outreach activity: Newsletter presenting Highlights of the Draft CCP/

EIS alternatives

Purpose: To notify interested individuals, organizations and State and

Federal agencies of the vision, goals, and five management alternatives to

be fully analyzed in the Draft CCP/EIS. Specific actions and strategies

associated with each alternative were presented and the Service’s Preferred Alternative was identified. Questions and comments on the proposals were solicited.

Number of non-Service participants: 1,390 entries on mailing list

Audience: Any interested public, organization, State or Federal agency

personnel

Topics discussed: The Open House meeting dates, preliminary issues

identified by the team, and requests for comments on land acquisition and

wilderness designation.

May 15, 2001

June 20, 2001

September 2001
Chapter 5

5-8 Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Outreach activity: Distributed Environmental Education Facility Project

Identification Document (PID) for review

Purpose: To solicit feedback on the draft PID document

Number of non-Service participants: 20

Audience: Everyone attending previous PID meetings and other interested

individuals

Topics discussed: Recommended changes to PID which were considered

in the development of the final PID, completed December 2001 (but not

yet approved).

Outreach activity: Informational exchange

Purpose: To share the process for and status of a land protection plan for

the Refuge Complex

Number of non-Service participants: 3

Audience: Maine Coast Heritage Trust

Topics discussed: We presented an overview of the CCP process and how

potential land acquisition and refuge expansions are incorporated into the

process. We discussed lands currently approved for acquisition, but not yet

acquired by the Service, and some new islands being considered by the

Service for acquisition.

Outreach activity: Presentation/discussion

Purpose: To update the Friends of Maine Seabird Islands Executive Board

and their membership of the status of the CCP

Number of non-Service participants: at least 11

Audience: The Friends Group’s eleven-member Executive Board consisting of:

• Thomas Arter - Damiscotta River Association

• Kathleen Blanchard, PhD - Director, Quebec Labrador Foundation

• David Cadbury - Vice President Cadbury Consultants

• Donald Hudson Jr., PhD - Director, The Chewonki Foundation

• Christopher Hamilton - Director of Communications, Maine Coast

Heritage Trust

• Susan March - Development Officer, University of Maine System

• Rachel Nixon - Trail Manager, Maine Island Trail Association

• Dennis Schultz - Outdoor Photographer

• William Silliker - Wildlife Photographer

• Theresa Torrent-Ellis - Director, Maine Coastal Program

• Hank Tyler - Maine State Planning Office

November 2001

February 7, 2002

April 27, 2002; August 16,

2002; January 8, 2003;

March 12, 2003
Consultation and Coordination with Others

Draft CCP/EIS - April, 2004 5-9

Topics discussed: Provided updates on the status of the CCP; the latest

developments and highlights of the Preferred Alternative.

Outreach activity: Informational exchange

Purpose: To report to the Northeast Region of The Wilderness Society the

status of Wilderness reviews being worked on in conjunction with CCP.

Number of non-Service participants: 2

Audience: A Northeast Regional Associate and Research Associate with

The Wilderness Society (TWS)

Topics discussed: We presented an overview of the CCP process and how

wilderness reviews are incorporated into the process. We talked about

specific CCP projects, including Petit Manan Refuge Complex, and the

results of the wilderness inventory. In the case of Petit Manan Refuge

Complex CCP, we let TWS know that 13 islands met the minimum criteria

for wilderness and that we would be evaluating these for wilderness

designation in the Draft CCP/EIS.

Outreach activity: Informational exchange/symposium

Purpose: To share the status of seabirds and seabird restoration in Maine

Number of non-Service participants: 50

Audience: Members of the Friends of Maine Seabird Islands, non-governmental conservation organizations, university contacts

Topics discussed: Both Refuge Complex and MDIFW staff presented

information on seabird population trends, current restoration activities,

and future restoration activities including long term goals and objectives

evaluated in the CCP.

Outreach activity: Discussion on Draft CCP/EIS alternatives

Purpose: To present the goals, objectives, actions and strategies related to

the Draft CCP/EIS alternatives, with emphasis on the Preferred Alternative actions

Number of non-Service participants: 4

Audience: MDIFW

Topics discussed: We presented and discussed in detail the objectives,

actions and strategies in the Draft CCP/EIS Service’s Preferred Alternative. We highlighted the seabird restoration work, Refuge expansion,

wilderness recommendations, and new public use infrastructure proposed

in the alternative.

September 23, 2002

October 19, 2002

January 17, 2003
Chapter 5

5-10 Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Outreach activity: Informational meeting with Tribal natural resource

coordinators in Maine

Purpose: To describe the CCP process, the status of CCP planning on

Maine refuges, and discuss cooperative planning opportunities.

Number of non-Service participants: 6

Audience: Trevor White (Passamaquoddy Tribe: Indian Township Reservation); Steve Crawford (Passamaquoddy Tribe: Pleasant Point Reservation), John Banks (Penobscot Nation); Sharri Venno (Houlton Band of the

Maliseet); and, Fred Corey and Dave Macek (Aroostook Band of the

Micmac).

Topics discussed: Presented the steps in the CCP process, gave an update

on where each of the Maine refuges are in the planning process and their

schedules for completion, discussed ways to improve communication and

cooperation with the Tribes during the planning process and in other

Refuge programs.

Outreach activity: Presentation to Gulf of Maine Ecosystem Team

Purpose: To provide an update on the status of the CCP

Number of non-Service participants: 10

Audience: Service personnel on the Gulf of Maine Ecosystem Team

Topics discussed: Presented highlights of the Service’s Preferred Alternative in the Draft CCP/EIS including the seabird restoration work, Refuge

Complex expansion, wilderness recommendations, and proposed public

use infrastructure.

Outreach activity: Briefing to Senators Snowe and Collins staffers

Purpose: To provide an update on the status of the CCP, including land

acquisition

Number of non-Service participants: 2

Audience: Gail Kelly, Senator Snow’s Office; Judy Cutty, Senator

Collin’s Office

Topics discussed: Presented highlights of the Service’s Preferred Alternative in the Draft CCP/EIS including land acquisition and wilderness

recommendations.

April 2, 2003

April 10, 2003

July 18, 2003
Consultation and Coordination with Others

Draft CCP/EIS - April, 2004 5-11

Outreach activity: Information meeting and field visit with Tribal natural

resource coordinators in Maine.

Purpose: To provide an update on the status of the Petit Manan CCP,

specifically highlighting the Service’s Preferred Alternative, and to visit an

active seabird restoration site on Petit Manan Island

Number of non-Service participants: 6

Audience: Trevor White (Passamaquoddy Tribe: Indian Township Reservation); Steve Crawford (Passamaquoddy Tribe: Pleasant Point Reservation), John Banks (Penobscot Nation); Sharri Venno (Houlton Band of the

Maliseet); Fred Corey (Aroostook Band of the Micmac); Donald Soctomah,

Cultural and Historic Preservation Officer for the two Passamaquoddy

Tribes.

Topics discussed: Presented highlights of the Service’s Preferred Alternative in the Draft CCP/EIS, including proposed land acquisition and developing an MOU with interested Tribes.

August 28, 2003