Sustainable Development Through Aquaculture

Sustainable development through aquaculture leads us to the conclusion of the importance of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) - resulting in purity, sustainability and traceability.

With RAS, Palom can satisfy the demand for pure, locally grown salmon. Permitting requires the approval of the community at large, local state and federal regulators and investment professionals.

Sustainable Development through Aquaculture - A Necessary and Long Approval Process

Milestones, Milestone Purpose, Status of Completion

Company Formation and Registration
Purpose: Palom Aquaculture LLC must be a company in good standing registered in Maine to qualify for Pine Tree Zone benefits
Status: In Good Standing
Authority: Maine – Secretary of State

Storm Water Permit-by-Rule
Purpose: Adherence to erosion control and land clearing standards in Maine
Status: Approved in Writing
Authority: Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Gouldsboro Town Meeting – Initial Town Meeting With Public Comments
Purpose: Public may challenge Palom's Building and Site Plan Applications
Status: No formal challenges entered
Authority: Town of Gouldsboro

Site Plan Approval Public Announcement
Purpose: Site plan must be approved by Town Site Plan Committee
Status: Approved in writing
Authority: Town of Gouldsboro – Zoning Board

Building Permit
Purpose: Review structure as to local building code requirements
Status: Approved, annual renewal in progress
Authority: Town of Gouldsboro Enforcement Officer

Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit
Purpose: Smolt must cross USA/Canada border, smolt considered wild animals
Status: Approved – annual renewal in progress
Authority: USA Fish and Wildlife

Federal Fish and Wildlife – Port Exception Permit
Purpose: Boston Massachusetts is normal point of entry for Northeast United States; smolt must enter USA through Calais Maine to minimize smolt travel by truck
Status: Approved – annual renewal in progress
Authority: USA Fish and Wildlife

Public Notice of Palom's Application for Discharge Permit with Maine DEP
Purpose: Inform citizens of Palom’s intent to discharge waste into public harbor
Status: No formal challenges entered
Authority: Maine DEP

Notification to American Indians located in Maine
Purpose: Determine if site has historical significance to any Indian Tribe
Status: Site has no significance to local Indian Tribes
Authority: USA Army Corps of Engineers

Notification to Historic Preservation Commission
Purpose: Determine if site has state or national historical significance
Status: Site has no historical significance
Authority: Maine Historic Preservation Commission

Pine Tree Zone Qualification
Purpose: Qualified companies receive discounts for power, state tax and state income tax
Status: Approved
Authority: Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

Sustainable Development Through Aquaculture - Safety

Bio-Security Plan (Unique Milestone)
Purpose: Updated Company Plan for employees explaining disease prevention and disease containment protocols
Status: Approved
Authority: Maine Department of Marine Resources, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service (Endangered Species Act), Maine Attorney General

Fish Containment Plan (Unique Milestone)
Purpose: Updated Company Plan for employees explaining fish containment protocols
Status: Approved
Authority: Maine Department of Marine Resources, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service (Endangered Species Act), Maine Attorney General

Endangered Species Act Review
Purpose: Does site construction and operation endanger any species at known risk
Status: Approved – site does not impact any at-risk species
Authority: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

Independent Feasibility Report
Purpose: Any financial or insurance assistance from any federal agency requires an independent, third party report, which concludes the project is engineered properly and financially feasible.
Status: Report determined project to be feasible
Authority: United States Department of Agriculture

Waste Effluent Discharge Calculations
Purpose: Does effluent exceed maximum pollution limits and allow for adequate dilution
Status: Approved within limits
Authority: Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Intake and Outflow Piping Structures
Purpose: Do structures provide adequate environmental and boat traffic safeguards
Status: Approved
Authority: USA Army Corps of Engineers

Permit to Grow Atlantic Salmon
Purpose: Protect Maine coastal waters from Salmon escapes and Salmon diseases
Status: Approved
Authority: Maine Department of Marine Resources

Item: Environmental Site Assessment
Purpose: Final review of all facilities and all real estate documents relating to use
Status: Complete
Authority: S.W. Cole Engineering

Item: Farm RAS Designs
Purpose: Design and cost models with vendor data for various size farms
Status: Costs identified by model
Authority: John Strandabo, Hemang Shah, various suppliers

Major Milestones

Our sustainable development through aquaculture, using RAS, ends with the issuance of two major permits.

Effluent Discharge Permits (Unique)
Purpose: Determine if effluent is detrimental to receiving body of water
Status: Approved – discharge is not detrimental to environment
Authority: Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Item: General Permit (Unique)
Purpose: Final review of all comments, permits, local, state and federal agencies
Status: Approved
Authority: USA Army Corps of Engineers

Supporting Documents