DNR To Hold A Public Scoping Meeting For Non-Native Oyster Issue
ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a meeting on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. to inform the public of the scope of an environmental impact statement to determine the feasibility of introducing non-native oysters into the Chesapeake Bay.
The meeting will be held at the:
Radisson Hotel in Annapolis
210 Holiday Court
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410-224-3150
www.radissonannapolis.com/The public will also be able to submit their comments via an online public forum accessible from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website; a date will be announced soon.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the lead Federal Agency, published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register on Jan.5. DNR and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission are the lead state agencies.
A Notice of Intent (NOI) is announcing to the public and interested agencies that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to evaluate the proposed action of introducing the non-native oyster species, also known as Crassostrea ariakensis, that is propagated from the existing third or later generations of the Oregon stock of the species, into the tidal waters of Maryland and Virginia to increase oyster populations.
The Notice of Intent briefly describes the Study Area, the proposed action, its proposed purpose and need, the agency's proposed public scoping process, and identifies the agency contact person (Peter Kube from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.)
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Maryland's oyster population is anticipated to be around 15,000 bushels for the 2003-04 harvest, down from 15 million bushels in 1885. The species has been ravaged by parasites MSX and Dermo since the 1950s. Estimated dockside value (at $25 a bushel) 30 years ago was more than $11 million; if the 15,000 estimated harvest figure for this year stands, the estimated value is only $375,000.
For more information on Maryland's initiative to study the non-native oyster, visit the DNR Pressroom at www.dnr.state.md.us/pressroom
Posted January 12, 2004