This is information for shoreland owners and others with interests on Penobscot Bay from Belfast south. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is now taking comments on Nordic Aquafarms’ application for wastewater discharge at Little River. Even if you are not a Maine resident, you may submit comments. In fact, non-resident shoreland owners have been instrumental over the years in the protection of our freshwater and ocean waterways.

As you may recall, Nordic is planning on dumping 7.7 million gallons of effluent a day into the Bay through a 3-inch diameter pipe that will extend one half mile from the mean low-tide mark off Little River. This daily effluent will contain suspended solids and 1,500 pounds of nitrogen along with other chemicals from the fish feed and fish processing operation. In cases of fish disease outbreaks (common in penned animals and fish), fungicides and antibiotics will also be added to the discharge. 

According to the oceanographer hired by Nordic, this effluent will hover between Belfast harbor and Bayside with the tides, slowly seesawing its way over a two-week period past Northport, Lincolnville Beach, Isleboro, Camden, Rockport and Rockland out to open ocean at Owls Head. There have been no studies of the cumulative effect of this daily dump. 

In addition, I want to call your attention to the fact that the plan also calls for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant on Route 1 just north of  Little River. There will be only a 75-foot setback from the road. 

This comment period is one of the few opportunities left for public input into this proposal. If you have been on the fence, it’s time to get off. Direct your questions and comments to Gregg Wood at the DEP, Gregg.Wood@maine.gov. Remember, this comment period is only about the effluent discharge. Put “Nordic proposal” in your subject line.

Linda Buckmaster lives in Belfast