Sustainable Water Use Rulemaking -- related statutory provisions

§470-E. Water use standards

The board shall adopt rules by January 1, 2005 that establish water use standards for maintaining in-stream flows and GPA lake or pond water levels that are protective of aquatic life and other uses and that establish criteria for designating watersheds most at risk from cumulative water use. Standards adopted under this section must be based on the natural variation of flows and water levels, allowing variances if use will still be protective of water quality within that classification. Rules adopted under this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A. Those rules must be provisionally adopted by January 1, 2005 and submitted for consideration to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters in the First Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature. This section is repealed 90 days after adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature. 

PL 2005, ch. 330, section 12. The section below is effective September 17, 2005.

Sec. 12. 38 MRSA §470-H is enacted to read:

§470-H. Water use standards; rules

The board shall adopt rules that establish water use standards for maintaining in-stream flows and GPA lake or pond water levels that are protective of aquatic life and other uses and that establish criteria for designating watersheds most at risk from cumulative water use. Standards adopted under this section must be based on the natural variation of flows and water levels, allowing variances if use will still be protective of water quality within that classification. Rules adopted under this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.