CHAPTER 502

H.P. 1036 - L.D. 1414

An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding Storage of Sand and Salt

and To Provide Funding for State and Municipal Storage

Facilities

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §413, sub-§2-D, as amended by PL 1999, c. 387, §4, is further amended to read:

2-D. Exemptions; road salt or sand-salt storage piles. The commissioner may exempt any road salt or sand-salt storage area from the need to obtain a license under this section for discharges to groundwaters of the State when the commissioner finds that the exempt activity will not have a significant adverse effect on the quality or classifications of the groundwaters of the State. In making this finding, the commissioner's review must include, but is not limited to, the location, structure and operation of the storage area.

Owners of salt storage areas shall register the location of storage areas with the department on or before January 1, 1986. As required by section 411, the department shall prioritize municipal or quasi-municipal sand-salt storage areas prior to November 1, 1986.

New or existing salt or sand-salt storage areas registered after October 1, 1999 may be exempt from licensing under this section as long as such areas comply with siting, operational and best management practices adopted by rule by the department. Storage areas other than those owned by municipalities or counties and