Significant Groundwater Wells -- Definition

For purposes of regulation under the Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA), the following definition applies.

 

9-A .  Significant groundwater well. "Significant groundwater well" is defined as follows.

A .  "Significant groundwater well" means any well, wellfield, excavation or other structure, device or method used to obtain groundwater that is:

(1) Withdrawing at least 75,000 gallons during any week or at least 50,000 gallons on any day and is located at a distance of 500 feet or less from a coastal or freshwater wetland, great pond, significant vernal pool habitat, water supply well not owned or controlled by the applicant or river, stream or brook; or

(2) Withdrawing at least 216,000 gallons during any week or at least 144,000 gallons on any day and is located at a distance of more than 500 feet from a coastal or freshwater wetland, great pond, significant vernal pool habitat, water supply well not owned or controlled by the applicant or river, stream or brook.

Withdrawals of water for firefighting are not applied toward these thresholds.

B .  "Significant groundwater well" does not include:

(1) A public water system as defined in Title 22, section 2601, subsection 8 other than a public water system used solely to bottle water for sale;

(2) Individual home domestic supply;

(3) Agricultural use or storage;

(4) A development or part of a development requiring a permit pursuant to article 6, article 7 or article 8-A; or

(5) A structure or development requiring a permit from the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission.