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Mark Rousseau
The Fisheries Habitat Project oversees the MarineFisheries In Lieu Fee (ILF) mitigation program to help address habitat degradation resulting from coastal construction projects.
Construction projects are reviewed and permitted in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations and procedures. If a project is deemed eligible for, and elects to participate in, the ILF program, the Army Corps of Engineers permit includes a condition stipulating that no work may be started until the Corps has received written verification from MarineFisheries that the required in-lieu fee payment has been collected.
When sufficient in-lieu fee payments have accrued, mitigation projects are to be implemented in accordance with the provisions outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MarineFisheries and the Corps. Mitigation projects must take into consideration the impacts to aquatic resources to be mitigated, site suitability, baseline condition of the sites, the maximum return on expended funds, benefits to aquatic resources, and the location and status of other mitigation project. As closely as possible, the proposed projects will be constructed in areas with habitat values similar to the habitat impacts that generated the in-lieu fees.
For more information on the MarineFisheries ILF Program, please visit the links below:
In-Lieu Fee Memorandum of Understanding between MarineFisheries and the Army Corps of Engineers 
Massachusetts In-Lieu Fee Program Fact Sheet |
