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Fryeburg Conservation Committee votes to file two Maine DEP complaints after alleged wetland clearing
Summary
At its May 4 meeting, the Fryeburg Conservation Committee voted unanimously to file two complaints with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection alleging unauthorized vegetation removal in wetlands and road creation in a red maple swamp.
The Fryeburg Conservation Committee voted unanimously at its May 4 meeting to file two complaints with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection alleging vegetation removal in wetlands and an unauthorized road through a red maple swamp.
Leah, a committee member, moved that the committee file a complaint with the Maine DEP about a view-shed cutting project that reportedly removed vegetation in wetlands and into a vernal pool. Nels, a committee member, seconded the motion; all members present voted in favor. The committee then approved a second motion, moved by Leah and seconded by Nels, to file a separate Maine DEP complaint regarding the creation of a road in a red maple swamp off Route 5, south of Bog Pond Road.
Committee member Mona said she had met with Manning and Kenney about the view-shed project and told the committee that the Bradleys requested the view. Mona reported that FA approved the view-shed work and hired Drew Corps. According to Mona, Drew Corps cut more vegetation than was originally approved, including along an embankment and into wetlands and a vernal pool where FA students had recently found a population of fairy shrimp. Mona said members of the public are upset and asked FA to request an apology from Drew Corps; the committee’s account records that Manning and Kenney declined that request.
The committee’s motions, both moved by Leah and seconded by Nels, direct staff or volunteers to file formal complaints with the Maine DEP alleging that wetland regulations were not followed and that a road was created in mapped red maple swamp. The motions carried by unanimous vote of members present (Kassidy; Mona; Nels; Leah).
The filing initiates a regulatory review by the Maine DEP; the committee did not record any immediate remediation by FA or Drew Corps during the meeting. The committee did not specify a timeline for the filings beyond approving the motions. Next procedural steps will depend on Maine DEP’s review and any follow-up the agency requires.
