§ 38 §480-D — Standards

The department shall grant a permit upon proper application and upon such terms as it considers necessary to fulfill the purposes of this article. The department shall grant a permit when it finds that the applicant has demonstrated that the proposed activity meets the standards set forth in subsections 1 to 11, except that when an activity requires a permit only because it is located in, on or over a community public water system primary protection area the department shall issue a permit when it finds that the applicant has demonstrated that the proposed activity meets the standards set forth in subsections 2 and 5.
1.
Existing uses.
The activity will not unreasonably interfere with existing scenic, aesthetic, recreational or navigational uses.
2.
Soil erosion.
The activity will not cause unreasonable erosion of soil or sediment nor unreasonably inhibit the natural transfer of soil from the terrestrial to the marine or freshwater environment.
3.
Harm to habitats; fisheries.
The activity will not unreasonably harm any significant wildlife habitat, freshwater wetland plant habitat, threatened or endangered plant habitat, aquatic or adjacent upland habitat, travel corridor, freshwater, estuarine or marine fisheries or other aquatic life.
4.
Interfere with natural water flow.
The activity will not unreasonably interfere with the natural flow of any surface or subsurface waters.
5.
Lower water quality.
The activity will not violate any state water quality law, including those governing the classification of the State's waters.
6.
Flooding.
The activity will not unreasonably cause or increase the flooding of the alteration area or adjacent properties.
7.
Sand or gravel supply.
If the activity is on or adjacent to a sand dune, it will not unreasonably interfere with the natural supply or movement of sand or gravel within or to the sand dune system or unreasonably increase the erosion hazard to the sand dune system.
8.
Outstanding river segments.
If the proposed activity is a crossing of any outstanding river segment as identified in section 480‑P, the applicant shall demonstrate that no reasonable alternative exists which would have less adverse effect upon the natural and recreational features of the river segment.
9.
Dredging.
If the proposed activity involves dredging, dredge spoils disposal or transporting dredge spoils by water, the applicant must demonstrate that the transportation route minimizes adverse impacts on the fishing industry and that the disposal site is geologically suitable. The Commissioner of Marine Resources shall provide the department with an assessment of the impacts on the fishing industry of a proposed dredging operation in the coastal wetlands. The assessment must consider impacts to the area to be dredged and impacts to the fishing industry of a proposed route to transport dredge spoils to an ocean disposal site. The Commissioner of Marine Resources may hold a public hearing on the proposed dredging operation. In determining if a hearing is to be held, the Commissioner of Marine Resources shall consider the potential impacts of the proposed dredging operation on fishing in the area to be dredged. If a hearing is held, it must be within at least one of the municipalities in which the dredging operation would take place. If the Commissioner of Marine Resources determines that a hearing is not to be held, the Commissioner of Marine Resources must publish a notice of that determination in a newspaper of general circulation in the area proposed for the dredging operation. The notice must state that the Commissioner of Marine Resources will accept verbal and written comments in lieu of a public hearing. The notice must also state that if 5 or more persons request a public hearing within 30 days of the notice publication, the Commissioner of Marine Resources will hold a hearing. If 5 or more persons request a public hearing within 30 days of the notice publication, the Commissioner of Marine Resources must hold a hearing. In making its determination under this subsection, the department must take into consideration the assessment provided by the Commissioner of Marine Resources. The permit must require the applicant to:
10.
Significant groundwater well.
If the proposed activity includes a significant groundwater well, the applicant must demonstrate that the activity will not have an undue unreasonable effect on waters of the State, as defined in section 361‑A, subsection 7, water-related natural resources and existing uses, including, but not limited to, public or private wells within the anticipated zone of contribution to the withdrawal. In making findings under this subsection, the department shall consider both the direct effects of the proposed withdrawal and its effects in combination with existing water withdrawals.
11.
Offshore wind power project.
This subsection applies to an offshore wind power project.

Legislative History

PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 430, §5 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 656, §3 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 890, §§A40,B71,72 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 296, §2 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 164, §1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 164, §2 (AFF). PL 2001, c. 248, §1 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 618, §3 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 551, §8 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 353, §9 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 399, §12 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 661, Pt. B, §10 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 615, Pt. E, §§7-9 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 653, §15 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 653, §33 (AFF). PL 2023, c. 481, §11 (AMD).