Source: https://www.fishwildlife.org/law-research-library/law-categories/endangered-species/endangered-species-habitat-provisions-maine
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 07:18:46+00:00

Document:
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 12804.
3. Functions of the Natural Areas Program. The Natural Areas Program shall perform the following functions.
A. The Natural Areas Program shall conduct an ongoing, statewide inventory of the State's natural areas, including, but not limited to, rare plants, animals, natural communities and ecosystems or other geological, hydrological, natural historical, scenic or other similar features, and may conduct investigations related to the population, habitat needs, limiting factors and other biological and ecological data to support the mandates of the Natural Areas Program or other cooperating agencies.
B. The Natural Areas Program shall maintain a biological and conservation database that must contain data from inventories and other data sources and other relevant biological, ecological or other information about natural features described in paragraph A and about ecologically significant sites that harbor these features. Information contained in the biological and conservation database may be made available as necessary or appropriate for conservation and land use planning, environmental review, scientific research and inquiry, education or other appropriate use. For the purpose of this paragraph, an appropriate use is one that will not jeopardize sensitive species or habitats.
C. The Natural Areas Program may coordinate inventory and data management and planning activities with other appropriate state agencies or entities to maximize efficiency and increase communication among agencies and to provide appropriate data interpretation and technical services to support the mandates and programs of those agencies.
D. The Natural Areas Program may levy appropriate charges to those using, for commercial gain, the inventory and information services provided by the Natural Areas Program to recover the costs of providing the services and a reasonable portion of the costs associated with building and maintaining the biological and conservation database. Charges must be fixed in a schedule prepared and revised as necessary by the Natural Areas Program and supported and explained by accompanying information.
E. The Natural Areas Program may enter into cooperative agreements with federal or state agencies, political subdivisions of this State or private persons or organizations to receive or disburse funds for the purposes of this subchapter.
F. The Natural Areas Program shall maintain a database of areas designated as ecological reserves as defined in section 1801, subsection 4-A and other public lands designated and managed for equivalent purposes and shall provide scientific review of areas on state land proposed as ecological reserves.
G. The Natural Areas Program shall provide staff assistance to support the Land for Maine's Future Board established under Title 5, chapter 353.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 544.
1. General permit.-- An individual permit is not required for the alteration of freshwater wetlands to cultivate cranberries as long as the provisions of this section are met.
2. Requirements.-- An application must be filed with the department and must meet the following requirements.
Citation: 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-U.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 12760.
3. Modification of identified offshore wind energy test areas.-- Following the identification of offshore wind energy test areas under subsection 1, the department may, following notice and opportunity for public comment, add to, remove or other otherwise modify the list of offshore wind energy test areas identified under subsection 1. In making modifications under this subsection, the department is subject to the site identification criteria under subsection 1, except that modifications under this subsection may result in more than 5 identified areas.
4. Judicial review.-- The identification of an offshore wind energy test area or areas under subsection 1 or subsection 3 constitutes final agency action.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 1868.
...2. General permit.-- A person may apply for a general permit for an offshore wind energy demonstration project in accordance with this section. If a general permit is granted pursuant to this section, a permit is not required under section 480-C for the construction and operation of an offshore wind energy demonstration project.
(3) Monitoring the effects of the removal activities on species listed as threatened or endangered species in Title 12, section 6975 or Title 12, section 12803, subsection 3 and marine resources both during and subsequent to completion of removal activities.
Citation: 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-HH.
1. General permit.-- A general permit is required for the alteration of a freshwater, nontidal stream to construct an agricultural irrigation pond. If the provisions of this section are met, an individual permit is not required.
C. The pond may not be located in a wetland containing endangered or threatened plant species as determined pursuant to Title 12, section 544-B, subsection 3 or containing a natural community that is imperiled (S2) or critically imperiled (S1) as defined by the Natural Areas Program pursuant to Title 12, section 544.
Citation: 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-Y.
3. Harm to habitats; fisheries.-- The activity will not unreasonably harm any significant wildlife habitat, freshwater wetland plant habitat, threatened or endangered plant habitat, aquatic or adjacent upland habitat, travel corridor, freshwater, estuarine or marine fisheries or other aquatic life.
In determining whether mining, as defined in section 490-MM, subsection 11, will comply with this subsection, the department shall review an analysis of alternatives submitted by the applicant. For purposes of this subsection, a practicable alternative to mining, as defined in section 490-MM, subsection 11, that is less damaging to the environment is not considered to exist. The department may consider alternatives associated with the activity, including alternative design and operational measures, in its evaluation of whether the activity avoided and minimized impacts to the maximum extent practicable.
E. Compensating for an impact by replacing the affected significant wildlife habitat.
Citation: 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-D.
1. Distribution of funds.-- The board shall authorize the distribution of funds from the Land for Maine's Future Fund and the Public Access to Maine Waters Fund to state agencies and cooperating entities for the acquisition of natural lands that meet the criteria set forth in this chapter.
Citation: 5 M.R.S.A. § 6207.
3. Endangered Plants. -- The commissioner has the following responsibilities related to endangered plants.
Citation: 12 M.R.S.A. § 544-B.
Citation: 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-II.

References: § 12804
 § 544
 § 480
 § 12760
 § 1868
 § 480
 § 480
 § 480
 § 6207
 § 544
 § 480