October 11, 2017

WEEKLY NOTICES OF STATE RULEMAKING
Public Input for Proposed and Adopted Rules

Notices are published each Wednesday to alert the public regarding state agency rulemaking. You may obtain a copy of any rule by notifying the agency contact person. You may also comment on the rule, and/or attend the public hearing. If no hearing is scheduled, you may request one -- the agency may then schedule a hearing, and must do so if 5 or more persons request it. If you are disabled or need special services to attend a hearing, please notify the agency contact person at least 7 days prior to it. Petitions: you can petition an agency to adopt, amend, or repeal any rule; the agency must provide you with petition forms, and must respond to your petition within 60 days. The agency must enter rulemaking if the petition is signed by 150 or more registered voters, and may begin rulemaking if there are fewer. You can also petition the Legislature to review a rule; the Executive Director of the Legislative Council (115 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333, phone (207) 287-1615) will provide you with the necessary petition forms. The appropriate legislative committee will review a rule upon receipt of a petition from 100 or more registered voters, or from "...any person who may be directly, substantially and adversely affected by the application of a rule..." (Title 5 Section 11112). World-Wide Web: Copies of the weekly notices and the full texts of adopted rule chapters may be found on the internet at: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules. There is also a list of rulemaking liaisons, who are single points of contact for each agency.


PROPOSALS


AGENCY: 65-407 - Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 880, Attachments to Joint-Use Utility Poles; Determination and Allocation of Costs; Procedure
PROPOSED RULE NUMBER: 2017-P141
BRIEF SUMMARY: The Public Utilities Commission (Commission) initiates a rulemaking to amend Ch. 880 of the Commission's Rules regarding attachments to joint use utility poles. The Commission proposes to substantively amend Ch. 880 to include presumptively reasonable and unreasonable terms and conditions, approval criteria for new attaching entities, and resolution of pole attachment disputes.
PUBLIC HEARING: November 1, 9:30 a.m., Public Utilities Commission, 101 Second Street, Hallowell, Maine 04347
COMMENT DEADLINE: Written comments on the proposed rule may be filed in Docket No. 2017-00247 using the Commission's case management system no later than 4:00 p.m., Friday, November 17, 2017. All comments will appear in the Commission's case management system ( http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/online/index.shtml ). When submitting comments, commenters should refer to Docket No. 2017-00247.
CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING / SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT INFORMATION: Jody McColman, PUC, 18 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333. Telephone: (207) 287-3831. 711 Maine Relay. Email: Jordan.D.McColman@Maine.gov .
FINANCIAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: No fiscal impact
STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: 35-A MRS  § § 111, 301, 711, 7903, 8302
SUBSTANTIVE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED (if different):
PUC WEBSITE: www.maine.gov/mpuc/ .
PUC RULEMAKING LIAISON: Jamie.A.Waterbury@Maine.gov .


AGENCY: 10-144 - Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of MaineCare Services (OMS)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 101, MaineCare benefits Manual (MBM): Ch. III Section 21, Allowances for Home and Community Benefits for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder (Major substantive rule)
PROPOSED RULE NUMBER: 2017-P142
CONCISE SUMMARY: The Department is proposing this rulemaking in accordance with .L 2017 ch. 284 Sec. MMMMMMM-2. PL 2017 ch. 284 provides funding to increase reimbursement rates for 23 procedure codes in Ch. III Section 21. The legislation directed the Department to increase the rates for the specific procedure codes in equal proportion to the funding provided for that purpose. In addition to the rate increases required by PL 2017 ch. 284, the Department is also increasing the rate for a 24th procedure code to create consistency among similar services within the waiver. These increased rates will be effective retroactive to July 1, 2017. The Legislature did not appropriate additional funding for these rate increases beyond June 30, 2018; therefore, rates will revert to their current levels (pre-July 1, 2017) on July 1, 2018.
In creating the rates for the 24 codes, the Department examined utilization of these services, and then calculated rates to ensure parity between Section 21 and Section 29, to lessen administrative complications for providers.
See http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml for rules and related rulemaking documents.
PUBLIC HEARING: November 1, 2017 - 9:00 a.m., Augusta Armory, 179 Western Avenue, Augusta, ME 04330. (Update note: the date of the hearing has been changed from November 2 to November 1.)
The Department requests that any interested party requiring special arrangements to attend the hearing contact the agency person listed below before October 23, 2017.
DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS: Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. on November 12, 2017.
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON / SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT INFORMATION: Rachel Posner, Comprehensive Health Planner II, MaineCare Services, 242 State Street, 11 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0011. Telephone: (207) 624-6951. Fax: (207) 287-1864. TTY: 711 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing). Email: Rachel.Posner@Maine.gov .
IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: The Department anticipates that this rulemaking will not have any impact on municipalities or counties.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 22 MRS  § § 42, 3173; PL 2017 ch. 284 MMMMMMM-2
SUBSTANTIVE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED (if different):
OMS WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/ .
DHHS RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Kevin.Wells@Maine.gov .


AGENCY: 10-144 - Department of Health and Human Services )DHHS), Office of MaineCare Services (OMS)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 101, MaineCare Benefits Manual (MBM): Ch. II Section 29, Support Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder
PROPOSED RULE NUMBER: 2017-P143
CONCISE SUMMARY: The Department proposes this rule in accordance with PL 2017 ch. 284 (An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2019), which provided funding to increase the annual cap for services provided under Section 29 from $23,771 to $47,500. The Act funded Shared Living services as a new residential Covered Service available to eligible members under Section 29.
The Department has increased the annual combined services cap from the $47,500 in the legislation to $52,425, to accommodate the annual cost of the newly added Shared Living service, given the rate increase for this service for SFY18, as implemented in a contemporaneous emergency rule for Ch. III Section 29. In addition, the Department is adding Shared Living, and removing Work Support from, this cap, which will now include Home Support, Community Support, and Shared Living. The Department has increased the annual cap on Respite services to accommodate the rate increase for this service for SFY18 in Ch. III Section 29, which the Department is also engaged in concurrent emergency rulemaking. Both of these increases in caps will be retroactive to July 1, 2017, pursuant to the increased rates for services in the legislation, and pursuant to 22 MRS  §42(8).
This proposed rulemaking enacts changes that were made to Section 29 on an emergency basis effective October 1, 2017, and which are effective for ninety (90) days.
The proposed rule implements these changes by adding definitions for Administrative Oversight Agency, Shared Living, and Shared Living Provider, and by adding Shared Living as a Covered Service. The combined services cap has been increased to $52,425, and Shared Living has been added to the services included under the cap. Work Support-Individual and Work Support-Group have been removed from the cap. Removing these services from the cap removes the limit on Work Support, and allows members flexibility to use the capped amount for the other services. The annual limit on Respite has been increased from $1,000 to $1,100. The weekly cap on Home Support-Remote Support has been removed to increase member flexibility.
These changes are not expected to have an adverse effect on the administrative burdens of small businesses.
See http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml for rules and related rulemaking documents.
PUBLIC HEARING: October 31, 2017 - 9:00 a.m., Augusta Civic Center, Kennebec-Penobscot Room, 76 Commerce Drive, Augusta, ME 04330. The Department requests that any interested party requiring special arrangements to attend the hearing contact the agency person listed below before October 20, 2017.
DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS: Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. on November 10, 2017
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Rachel Posner, Comprehensive Health Planner II, MaineCare Services, 242 State Street, 11 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0011. Telephone: (207) 624-6951. Fax: (207) 287-1864. TTY: 711 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing). Email: Rachel.Posner@Maine.gov .
CONTACT PERSON FOR SMALL BUSINESS INFORMATION: N/A
IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: The Department anticipates that this rulemaking will not have any impact on municipalities or counties.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 22 MRS  § § 42, 3173
SUBSTANTIVE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED (if different):
OMS WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/ .
DHHS RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Kevin.Wells@Maine.gov .


AGENCY: 10-144 - Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of MaineCare Services (OMS)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 101, MaineCare Benefits Manual (MBM): Ch. III Section 29, Allowances for Support Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder (Major substantive rule)
PROPOSED RULE NUMBER: 2017-P144
CONCISE SUMMARY: The Department adopts this rule in accordance with PL 2017 ch. 284 (An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2019),  § § § ZZZZZZZ-9 MMMMMMM-2, which provided funding to increase reimbursement rates for 16 procedure codes in Ch. III Section 29, and directed the Department – via major substantive rulemaking – to increase the rates for the specific procedure codes in equal proportion to the funding provided. The Department has also increased the rate for a 17th procedure code in order to create consistency among similar services within the waiver. These rates will be effective retroactive to July 1, 2017. Funding for these rate increases was only appropriated for SFY18. The Legislature did not appropriate additional funding for these rates beyond June 30, 2018; therefore, rates increased for SFY18 will revert to their current levels (pre July 1, 2017) on July 1, 2018.
In accordance with Part III Sec. TTTT-1 of the Act, the Department adopted these provisions as emergency major substantive rules effective October 1, 2017. The emergency major substantive rules will be in effect for twelve (12) months, or until the Legislature has completed its review. In creating the rates for the codes shown below, the Department examined utilization of these services, and then calculated rates to ensure parity between Section 29 and Section 21, to lessen administrative complications for providers.
In addition, the Department is adding two procedure codes for Shared Living services as the Department is contemporaneously adopting an emergency rule for Ch. II Section 29 to add this benefit as a covered service for members. These rates are consistent with the rates for the same services under Section 21, and include increased rates for SFY18 that will revert to their current levels (pre July 1, 2017) pursuant to PL 2017 ch. 284.
This change is not expected to have an adverse effect on the administrative burdens of small businesses.
See http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml for rules and related rulemaking documents.
PUBLIC HEARING: October 31, 2017 - 1:00 p.m., Augusta Civic Center, Kennebec-Penobscot Room, 76 Commerce Drive, Augusta, ME 04330. The Department requests that any interested party requiring special arrangements to attend the hearing contact the agency person listed below before October 20, 2017.
DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS: Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. on November 10, 2017.
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Rachel Posner, Comprehensive Health Planner II, MaineCare Services, 242 State Street, 11 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0011. Telephone: (207) 624-6951. Fax: (207) 287-1864. TTY: 711 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing). Email: Rachel.Posner@Maine.gov .
CONTACT PERSON FOR SMALL BUSINESS INFORMATION: N/A
IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: The Department anticipates that this rulemaking will not have any impact on municipalities or counties.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 22 MRS  § § 42, 3173; .LD 2017 ch. 284  §MMMMMMM-2
SUBSTANTIVE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED (if different):
OMS WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/ .
DHHS RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Kevin.Wells@Maine.gov .


AGENCY: 02-385 - Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (PFR), Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), Manufactured Housing Board
CHAPTER NUMBERS AND TITLES: Ch. 110, State Certification of Modular Homes; Ch. 380, Licensing – Adoption of Codes and Standards; Ch. 890, Manufactures Home Installation Standards; Ch. 900, Used Manufactured Home Installation Standard
PROPOSED RULE NUMBER: 2017-P145, P146, P147, P148
BRIEF SUMMARY: The Board has proposed substantial revisions to Ch. 110, State Certification of Modular Homes, and to Ch. 900, Used Manufactured Home Installation Standards. The Board proposes to make minor changes to Ch. 380, Licensing Adoption of Codes & Standards, and Ch. 890, Manufactured Housing Installation Standards. The revisions are necessary to replace the 2009 International Residential Code with the 2015 Code.
The proposed changes in Ch. 110 eliminate the requirement for sprinklers and adopt standards that will not increase the cost of new manufacturing homes.
The changes in Ch. 890 are mandated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD. The major change in Ch. 890 is that the manufactured housing inspectors will do a preoccupancy inspection in 30% of new manufactured homes installed in Maine instead of in 20%.
Ch. 900 changes modify wind and roof load zones and remove these zones by county. Other changes in this chapter regulate crawlspace ventilation and modify the definitions to be easier to use and more accurate.
PUBLIC HEARING: November 1, 2017 – 10 a.m., Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, 76 Northern Avenue, Gardiner, Maine.
COMMENT DEADLINE: Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 13, 2017.
CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING / SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT: Robert V. LeClair, Executive Director / Board Administrator, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, 35 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333. Telephone: (207) 624-8678. TTY Number Maine Relay 711. Email: Robert.V.LeClair@maine.gov .
FINANCIAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: minimal
STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: 10 MRS  § § 9041, 9061
SUBSTANTIVE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED (if different):
PFR WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/pfr/index.shtml .
BOARD WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/manufactured_housing/index.html .
OPOR RULEMAKING LIAISON: Karissa.Davan@Maine.gov .


ADOPTIONS


AGENCY: 10-144 - Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of MaineCare Services (OMS)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 101, MaineCare Benefits Manual: Ch. III Section 21, Allowances for Home and Community Benefits for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2017-156 (Emergency)
CONCISE SUMMARY: This emergency major substantive rule is adopted in accordance with PL 2017 ch. 284 Sec. TTTT-1, which authorized the Department to adopt emergency rules as necessary to implement provisions of PL 2017 ch. 284. PL 2017 ch. 284 provides funding to increase reimbursement rates for 23 procedure codes in Ch. III Section 21. The legislation directed the Department to increase the rates for the specific procedure codes in equal proportion to the funding provided for that purpose. In addition to the rate increases required by PL 2017 ch. 284, the Department has also increased the rate for a 24th procedure code, as the Department has determined that this rate increase needs to be done in this emergency rulemaking to avoid an immediate threat to public health, safety or general welfare. These increased rates will be effective retroactive to July 1, 2017. The Legislature did not appropriate additional funding for these rate increases beyond June 30, 2018; therefore, rates will revert to their current levels (pre-July 1, 2017) on July 1, 2018.
The Department moved to emergency rulemaking once the rates were calculated and finalized. In creating the rates for the 24 codes, the Department examined utilization of these services, and then calculated rates to ensure parity between Section 21 and Section 29, to lessen administrative complications for providers.
See http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml for rules and related rulemaking documents.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 29, 2017, retroactive to July 1, 2017
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Rachel Posner, Comprehensive Health Planner II, MaineCare Services, 242 State Street, 11 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0011. Telephone: (207) 624-6951. Fax: (207) 287-1864. TTY: 711 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing). Email: Rachel.Posner@Maine.gov .
OMS WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/ .
DHHS RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Kevin.Wells@Maine.gov .


AGENCY: 10-144 - Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of MaineCare Services (OMS)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 101, MaineCare Benefits Manual (MBM): Ch. II Section 29, Support Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2017-157 (Emergency)
CONCISE SUMMARY: The Department adopts this emergency rule in accordance with PL 2017 ch. 284 (An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2019), which provided funding to increase the annual cap for services provided under Section 29 from $23,771 to $47,500. The Act funded Shared Living services as a new residential Covered Service available to eligible members under Section 29.
The Department has increased the annual combined services cap from the $47,500 in the legislation to $52,425, to accommodate the annual cost of the newly added Shared Living service, given the rate increase for this service for SFY18, as implemented in a contemporaneous emergency rule for Ch. III Section 29. In addition, the Department is adding Shared Living, and removing Work Support from, this cap, which will now include Home Support, Community Support, and Shared Living. The Department has increased the annual cap on Respite services to accommodate the rate increase for this service for SFY18 in Ch. III Section 29, which the Department is also engaged in concurrent emergency rulemaking. Both of these increases in caps will be retroactive to July 1, 2017, pursuant to the increased rates for services in the legislation, and pursuant to 22 MRS  §42(8).
The emergency rule implements these changes by adding definitions for Administrative Oversight Agency, Shared Living, and Shared Living Provider, and by adding Shared Living as a Covered Service. The combined services cap has been increased to $52,425, and Shared Living has been added to the services included under the cap. Work Support-Individual and Work Support-Group have been removed from the cap. Removing these services from the cap removes the limit on Work Support, and allows members flexibility to use the capped amount for the other services. The annual limit on Respite has been increased from $1,000 to $1,100. The weekly cap on Home Support-Remote Support has been removed to increase member flexibility.
These changes are not expected to have an adverse effect on the administrative burdens of small businesses.
See http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml for rules and related rulemaking documents.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2017
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Rachel Posner, Comprehensive Health Planner II, MaineCare Services, 242 State Street, 11 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0011. Telephone: (207) 624-6951. Fax: (207) 287-1864. TTY: 711 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing). Email: Rachel.Posner@Maine.gov .
OMS WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/ .
DHHS RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Kevin.Wells@Maine.gov .


AGENCY: 10-144 - Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of MaineCare Services (OMS)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 101, MaineCare Benefits Manual (MBM): Ch. III Section 29, Allowances for Support Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2017-158 (Emergency)
CONCISE SUMMARY: The Department adopts this emergency rule in accordance with PL 2017 ch. 284 (An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2019),  § § § ZZZZZZZ-9, MMMMMMM-2 and TTTT-1, which provided funding to increase reimbursement rates for 16 procedure codes in Ch. III Section 29, and directed the Department – via major substantive rulemaking – to increase the rates for the specific procedure codes in equal proportion to the funding provided. The Department has also increased the rate for a 17th procedure code in order to create consistency among similar services within the waiver. These rates will be effective retroactive to July 1, 2017. Funding for these rate increases was only appropriated for SFY18. The Legislature did not appropriate additional funding for these rates beyond June 30, 2018; therefore, rates increased for SFY18 will revert to their current levels (pre July 1, 2017) on July 1, 2018.
The Legislature granted emergency major substantive rulemaking authority for these rate increases, which the Department commenced once the rates were calculated and finalized. In creating the rates for the codes shown below, the Department examined utilization of these services, and then calculated rates to ensure parity between Section 29 and Section 21, to lessen administrative complications for providers.
In addition, the Department is adding two procedure codes for Shared Living services as the Department is contemporaneously adopting an emergency rule for Ch. II Section 29 to add this benefit as a covered service for members. These rates are consistent with the rates for the same services under Section 21, and include increased rates for SFY18 that will revert to their current levels (pre July 1, 2017) pursuant to PL 2017 ch. 284.
This change is not expected to have an adverse effect on the administrative burdens of small businesses.
See http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml for rules and related rulemaking documents.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2017
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Rachel Posner, Comprehensive Health Planner II, MaineCare Services, 242 State Street, 11 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0011. Telephone: (207) 624-6951. Fax: (207) 287-1864. TTY: 711 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing). Email: Rachel.Posner@Maine.gov .
OMS WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/ .
DHHS RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Kevin.Wells@Maine.gov .


AGENCY: 13-188 - Department of Marine Resources (DMR)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 41, Menhaden: 41.30, Menhaden Program; 2., State Allocation Fishery
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2011-159 {Emergency)
CONCISE SUMMARY: The presence of Atlantic menhaden in territorial waters has been persistent since the end of May, 2017. Over the past several months, the Atlantic menhaden fishery has been executed for both the state and episodic fisheries until each respective quota has been reached. Since July 6, 2017, the fishery has been operating under an incidental take program with a daily allowance of 6,000 lbs. The ongoing presence of Atlantic menhaden in bays and estuaries along the coast of Maine so late in the year is an unusual occurrence. The daily allowance of Atlantic menhaden is being reduced to 5,000 lbs. to protect and conserve the Atlantic menhaden population from unusual damage from prolonged fishing pressure. The Commissioner has determined that it is necessary to take this emergency action under 12 MRS  §6171(3)(A).
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 30, 2017
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Melissa Smith, Department of Marine Resources, 21 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0021. Telephone: (207) 624-6558, Fax: (207) 624-6024. TTY: (207) 633-9500 (Deaf/Hard of Hearing). Email: Melissa.Smith@Maine.gov .
DMR RULEMAKING WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/dmr/rulemaking/ .
DMR WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/dmr/ .
DMR RULEMAKING LIAISON: Deirdre.Gilbert@Maine.gov .


AGENCY: 09-137 – Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW)
CHAPTER NUMBERS AND TITLES:
Ch. 1, Open Water and Ice Fishing Regulations;
Ch. 1-A, State Heritage Fish Waters
ADOPTED RULE NUMBERS: 2017-160, 161
CONCISE SUMMARY: The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has adopted rules pertaining to open water fishing and ice fishing. This body of rules is printed in its entirety in the “Open Water & Ice Fishing Laws and Rules” booklet (January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018) and will be available from the Department, online at www.maine.gov/ifw, as well as license agents. The Department has also made additions to the State Heritage Fish waters list to include 17 new bodies of water. For a copy of adopted changes prior to release of the laws and rules booklet, please contact the agency rulemaking contact person.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2018
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON / IFW RULEMAKING LIAISON: Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, 41 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333. Telephone: (207) 287-5202. Email: Becky.Orff@Maine.gov .