Chapter 500 Stormwater Management Updates Stakeholder Engagement Process

Contact chapter500.dep@maine.gov to receive email notification about the stakeholder process

Ground Rules and Meeting Procedures

Useful References +  

Steering Committee Meetings +  

Technical Committee Meetings +  

Hide: Technical Committee Meetings -

Meeting 1: Low Impact Development

March 18, 2024

Meeting 2: Flooding Standard

April 1, 2024

Meeting 3: Sensitive and Threatened Watersheds

June 25, 2024

Meeting 4: Subcommittee Updates and Stormwater BMP Manual

September 9, 2024

Meeting 5: New Standards Overview

November 14, 2024


To engage stakeholders in the update of Chapter 500 stormwater rules, Maine DEP has convened a Steering Committee and Technical Committee to provide feedback and assist with language updates.

Overview

Maine DEP has convened a Steering Committee and Technical Committee to work together to develop a consensus-based framework for improving the State’s stormwater regulations, specifically Chapter 500, considering the State’s environmental protection and climate adaptation goals. There are three levels of engagement:

  • Stakeholders include any member of the public, including those in the Technical and Steering Committees. This group does not meet; however, stakeholders are able to watch the Steering Committee meetings and ask questions at the end of each meeting. Throughout the process stakeholders are be updated through the chapter500.dep@maine.gov email. The facilitator is monitoring the Chapter 500 email and will respond within five business days to any questions or comments received.
  • The Steering Committee is charged with identifying areas of the State’s stormwater regulations that need to be improved to define the Technical Committee’s assignments.
  • The Technical Committee’s goal is to develop scientifically and technically defensible, practicable stormwater standards as assigned by the Steering Committee.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee’s goal is to identify the areas of the State’s stormwater regulations that need to be improved to define the Technical Committee’s assignments. Members of this committee have various degrees of knowledge of and experience with the state’s stormwater regulations and stormwater management.

Steering Committee Members (subject to change)
Member Title Representing
Jeff Dennis Biologist DEP Bureau of Water Quality
Nathan Robbins Climate Change Specialist DEP Office of the Commissioner
Kerem Gungor Stormwater Engineering Team Leader DEP Bureau of Land Resources
Mark Bergeron Engineer TRC Companies
David Courtemanch Freshwater Science and Policy Analyst The Nature Conservancy
Fred Dillon Stormwater Program Coordinator City of South Portland
Doug Rancarati Stormwater Program Coordinator City of Portland
Brenda Zollitsch BASWG Facilitator Bangor Area Stormwater Working Group (BASWG)
Curtis Bohlen Director Casco Bay Estuary Partnership
Ivy Frignoca Casco Baykeeper Friends of Casco Bay
Rick Licht Principal/Engineer Maine Real Estate Development Association (MEREDA)
John McMeeking Landscape Architect Boston Society of Landscape Architects
Joe Laverriere Engineer City of Saco
Cindy Dionne Stormwater Manager Department of Transportation
Brian Ambrette Senior Climate Resiliance Coordinator Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future
John Kuchinski Engineer City of Lewiston
Matt Marks Principal Associated General Contractors of Maine
Rebecca Graham Legislative Advocate Maine Municipal Association
Ben Torres Code Enforcement Officer Town of Houlton

Technical Committee

The Technical Committee’s goal is to develop scientifically and technically defensible, practicable stormwater standards as assigned by the Steering Committee. Members of this committee have professional experience and expertise in stormwater management applications and rules.

Technical Committee Members (subject to change)
Member Title Representing
Al Palmer President & Principal Gorrill Palmer
Andy Johnston Principal & Engineer Atlantic Resource Consultants
Angela Blanchette Director of Engineering & Technical Services City of Scarborough
Aubrey Strause Municipal Services Coordinator Acorn Engineering
Charlie Hebson Engineer Maine Department of Transportation
Chris Baldwin District Engineer Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District
Curtis Bohlen Director Casco Bay Estuary Partnership
Dan Diffin Vice President & Senior Civil Engineer Sevee & Maher Engineers
Joe Laverriere Engineer City of Saco
Mark Bergeron Engineer TRC Companies
Paul Ostrowski Senior Project Engineer & Engineering Design Manager Sebago Technics
Rodney Kelshaw Managing Partner & Senior Scientist Flycatcher
Ryan Barnes Project Manager Maine Turnpike Authority
Peter Newkirk Engineer Newkirk Environmental
Phil Ruck Engineer Bangor Area Stormwater Working Group

For inquiries or to be placed on the Department's distribution list, send an email to chapter500.dep@maine.gov.