U. S. Fish & Wildlife Services Proposal to List the Atlantic Salmon on the Endangered Species List on Seven Downeast Rivers

Submitted by Vivian Matkivich, MWWCA Government Affairs Committee
March 15, 2000

   The Maine Wastewater Control Association (MWWCA) is a not for profit environmental organization made up of wastewater treatment professionals, including municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant operators, environmental consultants, and other persons interested in environmental protection of water resources.  Our mission is to promote environmental management practices to protect and improve the waters and related environments of the State of Maine.

   As an active environmental protection community, engaged primarily in meeting the goals of the Clean Water Act, we are committed to making Maine's waters fishable and swimmable.  Therefore, we strongly support efforts to protect and enhance Atlantic salmon habitat.  These efforts include:

1. the Maine Conservation Plan, effected and implemented by a consortium of State environmental  and economic development agencies, business interests and environmental groups; and
   

2. the Narraguagus Study, investigating the causes of high mortality in Atlantic salmon, funded through the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

   As representatives of a regulated community, serving municipalities of Maine,  MWWCA maintains that public environmental policy and regulation must be based on need, scientific criteria and a common sense assessment of environmental benefit vs. economic impact.  Therefore,  MWWCA is in favor of the State of Maine's request for an extension of the comment period on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services proposal to list Atlantic salmon as an endangered species in seven Maine rivers: the Denys, East Machias, Machias, Pleasant, Narraguagus, Ducktrap and Sheepscot.  The extension will allow time for an independent peer review of scientific data being used by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services to substantiate the listing of Atlantic salmon as endangered. 

   We realize that once a species is lost, no amount of study or funding can bring it back.  So, MWWCA will continue on a course of actively participating in the development and implementation of  environmental policy and rules dedicated to protecting and improving water quality in Maine.  

Vivian Matkivich
MWWCA Government Affairs Committee

c/o  Lewiston-Auburn 
Water Pollution Control Authority

535 Lincoln Street,  Lewiston, Maine 04240

Telephone: (207) 782-0917    
FAX: (207)782-9877 
E-mail: lawpca@gwi.net

Top

Back to Position Papers

Job Bank | Equipment For Sale | Maine Legislature
For Kids | Operator Profile | Plant Profile | Position Papers
Force Maine | Resource Links | Site Map
 

Send mail to administration with questions or comments about this web site.

Last modified: