Maine Revised Statutes
Article 5-A: NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION ACT
38 §480-C. Prohibitions

§480-C. Prohibitions
1.  Prohibition.  A person may not perform or cause to be performed any activity listed in subsection 2 without first obtaining a permit from the department if the activity is located in, on or over any protected natural resource or is located adjacent to any of the following:  
A. A coastal wetland, great pond, river, stream or brook or significant wildlife habitat contained within a freshwater wetland; or   [PL 1995, c. 460, §4 (RPR); PL 1995, c. 460, §12 (AFF).]
B. Freshwater wetlands consisting of or containing:  
(1) Under normal circumstances, at least 20,000 square feet of aquatic vegetation, emergent marsh vegetation or open water, except for artificial ponds or impoundments; or  
(2) Peatlands dominated by shrubs, sedges and sphagnum moss.   [PL 1995, c. 460, §4 (RPR); PL 1995, c. 460, §12 (AFF).]
A person may not perform or cause to be performed any activity in violation of the terms or conditions of a permit.  
[PL 2001, c. 618, §2 (AMD).]
2.  Activities requiring a permit.  The following activities require a permit:  
A. Dredging, bulldozing, removing or displacing soil, sand, vegetation or other materials;   [PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW).]
B. Draining or otherwise dewatering;   [PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW).]
C. Filling, including adding sand or other material to a sand dune; or   [PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW).]
D. Any construction, repair or alteration of any permanent structure.   [PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW).]
3.  Application. 
[PL 1993, c. 721, Pt. F, §1 (RP); PL 1993, c. 721, Pt. H, §1 (AFF).]
4.  Significant groundwater well.  A person may not perform or cause to be performed the establishment or operation of a significant groundwater well without first obtaining a permit from the department.  
[PL 2007, c. 399, §11 (NEW).]
5.  Small-scale wind energy development.  A person may not construct or cause to be constructed a wind energy development requiring certification under Title 35-A, section 3456 without first obtaining a permit from the department under section 480-II.  
[PL 2015, c. 264, §2 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 430, §4 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 838, §4 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 890, §§A40,B70 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 721, §F1 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 721, §H1 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 460, §4 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 460, §12 (AFF). PL 2001, c. 618, §2 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 399, §11 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 264, §2 (AMD).

Structure Maine Revised Statutes

Maine Revised Statutes

TITLE 38: WATERS AND NAVIGATION

Chapter 3: PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF WATERS

Subchapter 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BOARD

Article 5-A: NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION ACT

38 §480-A. Findings; purpose; short title

38 §480-B. Definitions

38 §480-C. Prohibitions

38 §480-D. Standards

38 §480-E. Permit processing requirements

38 §480-E-1. Delegation of permit-granting authority to Maine Land Use Planning Commission

38 §480-E-2. Delegation of review authority to the Department of Health and Human Services or to a community public water system

38 §480-E-3. Delegation of permit-granting authority to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Forestry

38 §480-F. Delegation of permit-granting authority to municipality; home rule

38 §480-G. Periodic review of delegated authority

38 §480-H. Rules; performance and use standards

38 §480-I. Identification of freshwater wetlands and fragile mountain areas

38 §480-J. Maps

38 §480-K. Data bank

38 §480-L. Research

38 §480-M. Funds

38 §480-N. Lake Restoration and Protection Fund

38 §480-O. Bulkheads and retaining walls on Scarborough River; permit requirements

38 §480-P. Special protection for outstanding river segments

38 §480-Q. Activities for which a permit is not required

38 §480-R. Violations; enforcement

38 §480-S. Fee for significant wildlife habitat review

38 §480-T. Transportation improvements (REPEALED)

38 §480-U. Cranberry cultivation

38 §480-V. Applicability

38 §480-W. Emergency actions to protect threatened property

38 §480-X. Alterations of freshwater wetlands

38 §480-Y. Creation of agricultural irrigation ponds

38 §480-Z. Compensation

38 §480-AA. Coastal sand dune rules

38 §480-BB. Significant wildlife habitat; major substantive rules

38 §480-CC. Significant wildlife habitat; shorebird feeding and roosting areas

38 §480-DD. Significant wildlife habitat criteria; reduction in certain significant wildlife habitats due to development or topography

38 §480-EE. Significant wildlife habitat criteria; inland open water

38 §480-FF. Notification of identification; shorebird nesting, feeding and staging areas

38 §480-GG. High and moderate value inland waterfowl and wading bird habitat and excavations and quarries authorized pursuant to article 6, 7 or 8-A

38 §480-HH. General permit for offshore wind energy demonstration project

38 §480-II. Small-scale wind energy development; permit requirements

38 §480-JJ. Program to reduce erosion and protect lake water quality (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 38, SECTION 480-II)