CHAPTER 574

H.P. 1358 - L.D. 1833

An Act To Amend Water Quality Laws To Aid in Wild Atlantic

Salmon Restoration

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

Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §465, sub-§1, śC, as amended by PL 1999, c. 243, §8, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

C.__Except as provided in this paragraph, there may be no direct discharge of pollutants to Class AA waters.

(1)__Storm water discharges that are in compliance with state and local requirements are allowed.

(2)__A discharge to Class AA waters that are or once were populated by a distinct population segment of Atlantic salmon as determined pursuant to the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973, Public Law 93- 205, as amended, is allowed if, in addition to satisfying all the requirements of this article, the applicant, prior to issuance of a discharge license, objectively demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that the discharge is necessary, that there are no other reasonable alternatives available and that the discharged effluent is for the purpose of and will assist in the restoration of Atlantic salmon and will return the waters to a state that is closer to historically natural chemical quality.