More Information about the Overboard Discharge Grant Program

The Maine Overboard Discharge Program was initiated by the Legislature (38 M.R.S.A. § 411-A) to help fund replacement systems that would eliminate licensed overboard discharges in certain areas. Licensed overboard discharges are treated discharges, to surface bodies of water, of domestic pollutants not conveyed to a municipal or quasi-municipal wastewater treatment facility. High priority is given to shellfish areas that could be opened for harvesting if the licensed overboard discharges were eliminated. High priority is also given to great ponds and small rivers and streams with drainage areas of less than 10 square miles where the licensed overboard discharge creates a public nuisance condition.

The State share of funding for projects in this grant program comes from bond issues approved by the voters of the State of Maine. The Program Administrator develops a priority list based on information from the Department of Marine Resources, DEP staff, local officials, shellfish committees, and other interest groups.

Municipalities, Quasi-Municipal Corporations, County Commissioners and Individual Persons may be eligible to receive grant funds to eliminate overboard discharges. Municipal officials may act as the Applicant for the grant funds for all the licensed discharges scheduled to be eliminated within their jurisdiction. Individual owners of licensed overboard discharges scheduled to be removed can also act as the Applicant for grant funds.

Owners of existing licensed overboard discharges in high priority areas will be notified by the DEP that they are eligible for grant funds to replace their existing system with a subsurface system in compliance with the Maine State Plumbing Code or to connect to a public sewer system. As of September 13, 2003, OBD Grant reimbursement is no longer dependent directly upon the use of the property. Instead, the grant percentage is determined by the sum of all the property owner's income according to the following table:

OBD Owner Annual Income	OBD Grant Percentage
Less Than $25,000	100%
$25,000 to $50,000	90%
$50,001 to $75,000	50%
$75,001 to $100,000	35%
Greater Than $100,000	25%

"Annual Income" is defined as the sum of all the property owner's federal taxable income for the previous year for single family dwellings, gross profits for the previous year for commercial establishments, and gross rents for the previous year for rental properties, as listed on the relevant income tax returns.

For structures which have a combination of these uses, the grant percentage will be based on the pro-rated share of each use as based on the design flows and percentage of time of each use.

Contact: Tim MacMillan, P.E., Administrator (207) 287-7765, Overboard Discharge Grant Program, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017

Rules: Chapter 594