Water Laws

Title 38, Chapter  3: PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF WATERS

Subchapter 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BOARD

Article 1: ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

38 §361-A. Definitions
38 §362. Authority to accept federal funds
38 §362-A. Experiments and scientific research in the field of pollution and pollution control
38 §363-D. Waiver or modification of protection and improvement laws
38 §372. Exceptions

Article 1-B: GROUND WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM

38 §401. Findings; purpose
38 §402. Research
38 §403. Ground water quality
38 §404. Ground water rights

Article 1-E: MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAM

38 §410-F. Marine Environmental Monitoring Program
38 §410-G. Report required

Article 1-F: NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION PROGRAM

38 §410-H. Definitions
38 §410-I. Cooperation with agencies
38 §410-J. Program implementation
38 §410-K. Program review

Article 2: POLLUTION CONTROL

38 §411. State contribution to pollution abatement
38 §411-A. State contribution to residential overboard discharge replacement projects
38 §411-B. Planning
38 §411-C. Maine Clean Water Fund
38 §412. Grants by State for planning
38 §412-A. Technical and legal assistance
38 §412-B. Consultation on waste water disposal
38 §413. Waste discharge licenses
38 §414. Applications for licenses
38 §414-A. Conditions of licenses
38 §414-B. Publicly owned treatment works
38 §414-C. Color pollution control
38 §415. Appeals (REPEALED)
38 §417. Certain deposits and discharges prohibited
38 §417-A. Manure spreading
38 §418. Log driving and storage
38 §418-A. Protection of the lower Penobscot River
38 §419. Cleaning agents and lawn and turf fertilizer containing phosphate banned
38 §419-A. Prohibition on the use of tributyltin as an antifouling agent
38 §419-B. Goals for dates of removal of transformers containing polychlorinated biphenyls
38 §419-C. Prevention of the spread of invasive aquatic plants
38 §419-E. Coal tar sealant products
38 §420. Certain deposits and discharges prohibited
38 §420-B. Surface water ambient toxic monitoring program
38 §420-C. Erosion and sedimentation control
38 §420-D. Storm water management

Article 2-B: MANDATORY SHORELAND ZONING

38 §435. Shoreland areas
38 §436-A. Definitions
38 §437. Significant river segments identified (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4811-B)
38 §438-A. Municipal authority; state oversight
38 §438-B. Timber harvesting and timber harvesting activities in shoreland areas; authority of Director of the Bureau of Forestry in the Department of Conservation
38 §439-A. Additional municipal powers, limitations
38 §439-B. Contractors certified in erosion control (WHOLE SECTION TEXT EFFECTIVE 1/1/13)
38 §440. Federal flood insurance (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4812-B)
38 §440-A. Public access
38 §441. Code enforcement officers (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4812-C)
38 §443-A. Cooperation; enforcement
38 §444. Enforcement (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4815)
38 §444-A. Civil suit
38 §445. Guidelines for shoreland zoning along significant river segments
38 §446. Municipal ordinance review and certification
38 §447. Functionally water-dependent use zones
38 §448. Municipalities establish commercial fishing and maritime activity zones
38 §449. Shoreland zoning report to Legislature (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4812-D) (REPEALED)

Article 3: ENFORCEMENT

38 §451. Enforcement generally
38 §451-A. Time schedule variances
38 §451-B. Variances (REPEALED)
38 §452. Forms filed; right of entry; furnishing information
38 §453. Penalties (REPEALED)

Article 4-A: WATER CLASSIFICATION PROGRAM

38 §464. Classification of Maine waters
38 §465. Standards for classification of fresh surface waters
38 §465-A. Standards for classification of lakes and ponds
38 §465-B. Standards for classification of estuarine and marine waters
38 §465-C. Standards of classification of ground water
38 §466. Definitions
38 §467. Classification of major river basins
38 §468. Classifications of minor drainages
38 §469. Classifications of estuarine and marine waters
38 §470. Classification of ground water

Article 4-B: WATER WITHDRAWAL REPORTING PROGRAM

Article 5-A: NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION ACT

38 §480-A. Findings; purpose; short title
38 §480-B. Definitions
38 §480-C. Prohibitions
38 §480-D. Standards
38 §480-E. Permit processing requirements
38 §480-E-1. Delegation of permit-granting authority to Maine Land Use Regulation Commission
38 §480-E-2. Delegation of review authority to the Department of Health and Human Services or to a community public water system
38 §480-F. Delegation of permit-granting authority to municipality; home rule
38 §480-G. Periodic review of delegated authority
38 §480-H. Rules; performance and use standards
38 §480-I. Identification of freshwater wetlands and fragile mountain areas
38 §480-J. Maps
38 §480-K. Data bank
38 §480-L. Research
38 §480-M. Funds
38 §480-N. Lake Restoration and Protection Fund
38 §480-O. Bulkheads and retaining walls on Scarborough River; permit requirements
38 §480-P. Special protection for outstanding river segments
38 §480-Q. Activities for which a permit is not required
38 §480-R. Violations; enforcement
38 §480-S. Fee for significant wildlife habitat review
38 §480-T. Transportation improvements (REPEALED)
38 §480-U. Cranberry cultivation
38 §480-V. Applicability
38 §480-W. Emergency actions to protect threatened property
38 §480-X. Alterations of freshwater wetlands
38 §480-Y. Creation of agricultural irrigation ponds
38 §480-Z. Compensation
38 §480-AA. Coastal sand dune rules
38 §480-BB. Significant wildlife habitat; major substantive rules
38 §480-CC. Significant wildlife habitat; shorebird feeding and roosting areas
38 §480-DD. Significant wildlife habitat criteria; reduction in certain significant wildlife habitats due to development or topography
38 §480-EE. Significant wildlife habitat criteria; inland open water
38 §480-FF. Notification of identification; shorebird nesting, feeding and staging areas
38 §480-GG. High and moderate value inland waterfowl and wading bird habitat and excavations and quarries authorized pursuant to article 6, 7 or 8-A
38 §480-HH. General permit for offshore wind energy demonstration project

Article 6: SITE LOCATION OF DEVELOPMENT

38 §481. Findings and purpose
38 §482. Definitions
38 §483-A. Prohibition
38 §484. Standards for development
38 §484-A. Unlicensed pits; temporary licensing exemption
38 §484-B. Additional standards for quarries and excavations
38 §485-A. Notification required; board action; administrative appeals
38 §486-A. Hearings; orders; construction suspended
38 §486-B. General permit authority; Department of Transportation and Maine Turnpike Authority developments
38 §487-A. Hazardous activities; transmission lines
38 §488. Applicability
38 §489-A. Municipal review of development
38 §489-B. Uranium and thorium mining
38 §489-C. Rescission
38 §489-D. Technical assistance to municipalities
38 §489-E. Rulemaking
38 §490. Reclamation

Article 7: PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR EXCAVATIONS FOR BORROW, CLAY, TOPSOIL OR SILT

38 §490-A. Definitions
38 §490-B. Applicability
38 §490-C. Notice of intent to comply
38 §490-D. Performance standards
38 §490-E. Variances
38 §490-F. Review before expansion
38 §490-G. Inspections
38 §490-H. Enforcement and penalties
38 §490-I. Municipal enforcement; registration
38 §490-J. Fees
38 §490-K. Transfer of ownership or operation
38 §490-M. Erosion control requirements for clay, topsoil, or silt excavations of less than 5 acres
38 §490-N. Release

Article 8-A: PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR QUARRIES

38 §490-W. Definitions
38 §490-X. Applicability
38 §490-Y. Notice of intent to comply
38 §490-Z. Performance standards for quarries
38 §490-AA. Inspections
38 §490-BB. Enforcement and penalties
38 §490-CC. Variances
38 §490-DD. Municipal enforcement; registration
38 §490-EE. Transfer of ownership or operation; review before expansion; fees
38 §490-FF. Release