BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 26, 2023
Mainers looking to build driveways, expand parking lots, or pursue commercial projects may have to pay higher fees if their construction is in a wetland. Until now, Mainers have only had to pay fees for projects spanning more than 15,000 square feet in wetland areas. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants smaller construction projects disrupting more than 5,000 square feet of wetland areas in Maine to require these fees. In Maine, 25 percent of the state’s land area consists of wetlands. The state’s wetlands are unparalleled in the northeastern United States and are known for their biodiversity.