Governor Declares Limited Emergency to Help Restore Power

November 8, 2010

AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci has signed an Emergency Declaration that will allow power crews from other states to come to Maine. The declaration will help to restore electricity by extending the hours that crews can work.

The Emergency Declaration was issued at 7:25 a.m. today to expedite power restoration for thousands of households in the State currently without electricity as a result of recent and continuing heavy rains, high winds and other storm conditions.

The Governor and the Maine Emergency Management Agency continue to monitor the severe weather and its aftermath.

“Power crews are doing their best to restore power in areas that sustained damage," Governor Baldacci said. “To protect public health and safety, we will do what we can to help get electrical service repaired quickly.”

The State of Emergency proclamation will facilitate a waiver from the Federal Department of Transportation to extend the hours of service for workers and allow additional crews from other states to assist with repairs.

The text of the proclamation follows.

State of Maine

Governor’s Emergency Proclamation for US DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Hours of Service Waiver

WHEREAS, the State of Maine has experienced high winds and storm conditions that have left thousands of Maine homes and businesses out of power; and

WHEREAS, work crews will have to work many hours to restore power; and

WHEREAS, power restoration crews will be requested from other states to assist in power restoration; and

WHEREAS, federal rules determine the number of hours the driver of an electrical line repair vehicle may operate; and

WHEREAS, drivers of such vehicles must cease operations when they reach the federal limit on hours of operation, and therefore would have to cease power restoration; and

WHEREAS, these conditions threaten public health and safety and endanger public property if power cannot be restored to Maine homes and businesses; and

WHEREAS, these conditions are expected to extend until November 12, 2010; and

WHEREAS, the declaration of a State of Emergency will facilitate the granting of a waiver from the U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration pursuant to 49 CFR part 390.23 to allow relief from 49 CFR parts 390 through 399, specifically 49 CFR part 395 Hours of Service of Drivers, and subject to the limitations described below, and therefore allow drivers of electrical line repair vehicle to operate additional hours, and

WHEREAS, motor carriers that have an Out-Of-Service Order in effect may not take advantage of the relief from regulation that this declaration provides under 49 CFR 390.23

NOW THEREFORE, I, John Elias Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of Maine, find that these conditions constitute a civil emergency under 37-B M.R.S.A. section 742, and for the purpose pursuant to 49 CFR part 390.23 of facilitating a waiver to the U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, specifically 49 CFR part 395 Hours of Service of Drivers, do hereby declare that a State of Emergency exists as of November 8, 2010 through November 12, 2010.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed this proclamation in Augusta this 8th day of November in the Year of our Lord Two Thousand and Ten.

John E. Baldacci

Governor