The Department of Marine Resources will hold two public hearings on proposed changes to Chapter 7, Requirements for Municipalities having Shellfish Conservation Programs, and 7.70, Intertidal Mussel Harvesting by Drag or Dredge. The proposed rules establish intertidal mussel harvesting areas and the permit process to harvest mussels by drag in these areas and would provide compliance with statutes effective June 30, 2008, in accordance with 12 MRSA §6671(3)(A)(5) and (12) that give municipalities a mechanism to designate specific areas of their flats that have been seeded and need protection from intertidal dragging while allowing mussel harvester§s using drags to have access to areas that are not being actively managed by a town. Hearings will be held October 14 and 15, 2008. http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/notices/2008/092408.htm. and http://janus.state.me.us/legis/ros/lom/LOM123rd/123R2/PUBLIC494.asp