News & Announcements
September 22, 2009
Project Coordinator Contact:
Stewart Fefer
(stewart_fefer@fws.gov;
207-781-8364 x17)
New grants spur more than $5M in
conservation
action to benefit the Gulf of Maine
Nearly $2 million in grants, bolstered by $3.4 million raised by grant recipients, will support 14 coastal and marine conservation projects in Maine. Funding for the grants came from the settlement of a criminal enforcement action by the U.S. Attorney for Maine and the U.S. Coast Guard with the Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. associated with discharges and disposals of oil residue and oily mixtures in coastal waters of Maine.
The settlement and disbursement of funds resulted from a partnership effort of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), U.S. Attorney for Maine, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Officials from the Service worked with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Maine to make them aware of the possible use of Community Services Payments (CSP) to assist in rectifying the damage from the oil discharges. The U.S. Attorney for Maine became interested in the CSP and contacted the Service for information and assistance. The Service then worked with NFWF and the Office of the U.S. Attorney to develop criteria and implement the program. Because of the great interest in these funds expressed by agencies and non-government organizations in Maine when the CSP was announced in the media, NFWF developed a request for proposals. Numerous excellent proposals were received and Service staff at Gulf of Maine Coastal Program and NFWF staff evaluated and ranked the proposals.
Two of the funded projects will directly benefit National Wildlife Refuges in Maine. Rachel Carson NWR will receive funds to assist in purchasing Timber Point in partnership with Land and Water Conservation Fund. Maine Coastal Islands NWR will receive nationally significant Compass Island (seabird nesting colony) from Maine Coast Heritage Trust as a donation.
All of the projects awarded benefit coastal fish and wildlife resources in Maine and greatly assist the FWS in meeting its goals.
Press Release (including a list of funded projects)
The story was covered by The Associated Press and picked up by several major media outlets including The Washington Examiner, Forbes, CNBC, and MSN Money. Some of the media coverage for the announcement are linked below.
The U.S. Attorney for Maine and the U.S. Coast Guard presenting a check to the grant recipients. USFWS.