An Act To List Agriculture as a Designated Use in Water Quality Standards
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0443
Committee: Natural Resources
Sponsors: KNEELAND, WOTTON, BRYANT, WESTON, CHURCHILL, FISCHER, JACKSON, LUNDEEN, SHERMAN
Amends: 38 MRSA §465, 38 MRSA §465-A, 38 MRSA §465-B

Legislative Document 
No. 443 
S.P. 162 
In Senate, February 4, 2003 
An Act To List Agriculture as a Designated Use in Water Quality 
Standards 
Reference to the Committee on Natural Resources suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator KNEELAND of Aroostook. 
Cosponsored by Representative WOTTON of Littleton and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: BRYANT of Oxford, WESTON of Waldo, Representatives: CHURCHILL of 
Washburn, FISCHER of Presque Isle, JACKSON of Fort Kent, LUNDEEN of Mars Hill, 
SHERMAN of Hodgdon. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §465, sub-Sl, ~A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 
698, §15, is amended to read: 
A. 
Class AA waters saa±± must be of such quality that they 
are suitable for the designated uses of drinking water after 
disinfection, fishing, agriculture, recreation in and on the 
water aaa-L navigation and as habitat for fish and other 
aquatic life. 
The habitat sRa!± must be characterized as 
~tee-~±ewia~ free-flowing and natural. 
Sec. 2. 38 MRSA §465, sub-§2, ~A, as enac ted by PL 1985, c. 
698, §15, is amended to read: 
A. 
Class A waters saa±± must be of such quality that they 
are suitable for the designated uses of drinking water after 
disinfection; fishing; agriculture; recreation in and on the 
water; 
industrial 
process 
and 
cooling 
water 
supply; 
hydroelectric power generation, except as prohibited under 
Ti tIe 12, section 403; 
aHa navigation; and as habitat for 
fish and other aquatic life. 
The habitat saa!! must be 
characterized as natural. 
Sec. 3. 38 MRSA §465, sub-§3. ~A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 
698, §15, is amended to read: 
A. 
Class B waters sRa!! must be of such quality that they 
are suitable for 
the 
designated uses 
of drinking water 
supply after treatment; fishing; agriculture; recreation in 
and 
on the water; 
industrial process 
and 
cooling water 
supply; hydroelectric power generation, except as prohibited 
under Title 12, section 403; aHa navigation; and as habitat 
for fish and other aquatic life. 
The habitat saa±± must be 
characterized as unimpaired. 
Sec. 4. 38 MRSA §465, sub-§4, ~A, as enac ted by PL 1985, c . 
698, §15, is amended to read: 
A. 
Class C waters sRa±± must be of such quality that they 
are suitable for 
the designated uses 
of drinking water 
supply after treatment; fishing; agriculture; recreation in 
and 
on the water; 
industrial process 
and cooling water 
supply; hydroelectric power generation, except as prohibited 
under Title 12, 
section 403; 
aHa 
navigation; 
and 
as 
a 
habitat for fish and other aquatic life. 
Sec. 5. 38 MRSA §465-A. sub-H, ~A, as enac ted by PL 1985, c. 
698, §15, is amended to read: 
A. 
Class GPA waters saa±± must be of such quality that they 
are suitable for the designated uses of drinking water after 
disinfection, 
recreation 
in 
and 
on 
the 
water, 
fishing, 
agriculture, 
industrial process and cooling water supply, 
hydroelectric 
power 
generation 
aadL 
navigation 
and 
as 
habitat for fish and other aquatic life. 
The habitat saa±± 
must be characterized as natural. 
Sec. 6. 38 MRSA §465-B. sub-§l, ~A~ as enacted by PL 1985, c. 
698, §15, is amended to read: 
A. 
Class SA waters saa±± must be of such quality that they 
are suitable for the designated uses of recreation in and on 
the water, fishing, aquaculture, propagation and harvesting 
of shellfish aadL 
navigation and as habitat for fish and 
other estuarine and marine life. 
The habitat saa±± must be 
characterized as free-flowing and natural. 
Sec. 7. 38 MRSA §465-B. sub-§2, ~A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 
698, §15, is amended to read: 
A. 
Class SB waters saa±± must be of such quality that they 
are suitable for the designated uses of recreation in and on 
the water, fishing, aquaculture, propagation and harvesting 
of shellfish, industrial process and cooling water supply, 
aYFee±eetFie hydroelectric power generation aadL 
navigation 
and 
as habitat for 
fish 
?wl other estuarine and marllle 
life. 
The habitat saa±± must be characterized as unimpaired. 
Sec. 8. 38 MRSA §465-B. sub-§3. -,rA. as enac ted by PL 1985, c. 
698, §15, is amended to read: 
A. 
Class SC waters saa±± must be of such quality that they 
are sui table for recreation in and on the water, 
f ishillg. 
aquaculture, 
propagation 
and 
restricted 
harvesting 
of 
shellfish, 
industrial 
process 
and 
cooling 
water 
supply, 
hydroelectric 
power 
generation aadL 
navigation 
and 
as 
a 
habitat for fish and other estuarine and marine life. 
SUMMARY 
This bill adds agriculture as a designated use in Maine' s 
water quality standards. 
It also makes technical changes.