Maine § 38 §631 Purposes

Maine Statutes

§ 38 §631 — Purposes

Maine § 38 §631

Title 38WATERS AND NAVIGATION

Ch. 5GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO RIVERS AND STREAMS

This text of Maine § 38 §631 (Purposes) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 38, § 38 §631 (2026).

Text

1.Findings. The Legislature finds and declares that the surface waters of the State constitute a valuable indigenous and renewable energy resource; and that hydropower development utilizing these waters is unique in its benefits and impacts to the natural environment, and makes a significant contribution to the general welfare of the citizens of the State for the following reasons.

2.Policy and purpose. The Legislature declares that hydropower justifies singular treatment. The Legislature further declares that it is the policy of the State to support and encourage the development of hydropower projects by simplifying and clarifying requirements for permits, while assuring reasonable protection of natural resources and the public interest in use of waters of the State. It is the purpose o

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1.
Findings.
The Legislature finds and declares that the surface waters of the State constitute a valuable indigenous and renewable energy resource; and that hydropower development utilizing these waters is unique in its benefits and impacts to the natural environment, and makes a significant contribution to the general welfare of the citizens of the State for the following reasons.
2.
Policy and purpose.
The Legislature declares that hydropower justifies singular treatment. The Legislature further declares that it is the policy of the State to support and encourage the development of hydropower projects by simplifying and clarifying requirements for permits, while assuring reasonable protection of natural resources and the public interest in use of waters of the State. It is the purpose of this subarticle to require a single application and permit for the construction of all hydropower projects and for the reconstruction or structural alteration of certain projects, including water storage projects. The permit application process shall be administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, except that, for hydropower projects within the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, the commission shall administer the permit application process under this subarticle.
3.
Encouragement of tidal and wave power development.
It is the policy of the State to encourage the attraction of appropriately sited development related to tidal and wave energy, including any additional transmission and other energy infrastructure needed to transport such energy to market, consistent with all state environmental standards; the permitting and siting of tidal and wave energy projects; and the siting, permitting, financing and construction of tidal and wave energy research and manufacturing facilities.