An Act To Protect Sustenance Fishing
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1775
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: GIDEON, JACKSON, COLLINGS, DUNPHY, GRAMLICH, NEWELL, TALBOT ROSS, TUCKER, CARSON
Amends: 38 MRSA §420, 38 MRSA §465-A, 38 MRSA §466, 38 MRSA §466-A, 38 MRSA §467, 38 MRSA §468, 38 MRSA §469

Legislative Document
No. 1775
H.P. 1262
House of Representatives, May 23, 2019
An Act To Protect Sustenance Fishing
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Speaker GIDEON of Freeport.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL)
Cosponsored by President JACKSON of Aroostook and
Representatives: COLLINGS of Portland, DUNPHY of Old Town, GRAMLICH of Old 
Orchard Beach, NEWELL of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, TALBOT ROSS of Portland, 
TUCKER of Brunswick, Senator: CARSON of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  38 MRSA §420, sub-§1-B, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 418, §3, is 
amended to read:
A.  The ambient criteria for mercury are as follows:
(1) Ambient water quality criteria for aquatic life:
(a) Freshwater acute: 1.7 micrograms per liter;
(b) Freshwater chronic: 0.91 micrograms per liter;
(c) Saltwater acute: 2.1 micrograms per liter; and
(d) Saltwater chronic: 1.1 micrograms per liter; and
(2)  Fish tissue residue criterion for human health:  0.2 milligrams per kilogram 
in the edible portion of fish for all waters, except for those water body segments 
subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to article 4-A, which must 
have a fish tissue residue criterion for human health of 0.03 milligrams per 
kilogram in the edible portion of fish.
Sec. 2.  38 MRSA §465-A, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 2013, c. 193, §4, is 
further amended to read:
C.  There may be no new direct discharge of pollutants into Class GPA waters.  The  
Notwithstanding paragraph D, section 466-A or any other provision of law to the 
contrary, the following are exempt from this provision:
(1)  Chemical discharges for the purpose of restoring water quality approved by 
the department;
(2)  Aquatic pesticide or chemical discharges approved by the department and 
conducted by the department, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or 
an agent of either agency for the purpose of restoring biological communities 
affected by an invasive species; 
(3)  Storm water discharges that are in compliance with state and local 
requirements; 
(4)  Discharges of aquatic pesticides approved by the department for the control 
of mosquito-borne diseases in the interest of public health and safety using 
materials and methods that provide for protection of nontarget species.  When the 
department issues a license for the discharge of aquatic pesticides authorized 
under this subparagraph, the department shall notify the municipality in which 
the application is licensed to occur and post the notice on the department's 
publicly accessible website; and
(5)  Discharges of pesticides approved by the department that are:
(a)  Unintended and an incidental result of the spraying of pesticides;
(b)  Applied in compliance with federal labeling restrictions; and
(c)  Applied in compliance with statute, Board of Pesticides Control rules and 
best management practices.
Discharges into these waters licensed prior to January 1, 1986 are allowed to continue 
only until practical alternatives exist.  Materials may not be placed on or removed 
from the shores or banks of a Class GPA water body in such a manner that materials 
may fall or be washed into the water or that contaminated drainage may flow or leach 
into those waters, except as permitted pursuant to section 480-C.  A change of land 
use in the watershed of a Class GPA water body may not, by itself or in combination 
with other activities, cause water quality degradation that impairs the characteristics 
and designated uses of downstream GPA waters or causes an increase in the trophic 
state of those GPA waters.
Sec. 3.  38 MRSA §465-A, sub-§1, ¶D is enacted to read:
D.  The following waters are subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant 
to section 466-A: Conroy Lake in Monticello; Grand Lake Matagamon in Trout 
Brook Township and T.6 R.8 W.E.L.S.; Mattamiscontis Lake in T.3 R.9 N.W.P. and 
T.2 R.9 N.W.P.; Grand Falls Flowage, Berry Brook Flowage, George Brook 
Flowage, Huntley Brook Flowage, Lewey Lake, The Basin, The Narrows, Long Lake 
and Big Lake, adjacent to Indian Township; and Sysladobsis Lake in T.5 N.D.
Sec. 4.  38 MRSA §466, sub-§10-A is enacted to read:
10-A.  Sustenance fishing designated use.  "Sustenance fishing designated use" is a 
subcategory of the applicable fishing designated use that protects human consumption of 
fish for nutritional and cultural purposes and applies only to those water body segments 
that are identified in this article as subject to a sustenance fishing designated use.
Sec. 5.  38 MRSA §466-A is enacted to read:
§466-A.  Sustenance fishing designated use
1.  Water quality criteria.  To protect the sustenance fishing designated use 
designated under this article, the department shall calculate and establish water quality 
criteria for human health using a fish consumption rate of 200 grams per day and a cancer 
risk level of one in 1,000,000, except that the cancer risk level for inorganic arsenic is 
governed by section 420, subsection 2, paragraph J.
2.  Criteria deemed protective.  For all purposes, the sustenance fishing designated 
use established under this article is deemed protected through the water quality criteria 
for human health calculated and established by the department for the water body 
segments subject to a sustenance fishing designated use under this article.
3.  Limitation; construction.  Nothing in this section and nothing in the designation 
in this article of a sustenance fishing designated use may be construed to:
A.  Create any other right or protection, including a right to any particular quantity or 
quality of fish;
B.  Limit any right or protection otherwise existing in law; or
C.  Alter or affect the regulation of mercury in discharges, which is governed 
exclusively by section 413, subsection 11 and section 420, subsection 1-B.
Sec. 6.  38 MRSA §467, sub-§7, ¶A, as amended by PL 2003, c. 317, §12, is 
further amended to read:
A.  Penobscot River, main stem.
(1)  From the confluence of the East Branch and the West Branch to the 
confluence of the Mattawamkeag River, including all impoundments - Class C.  
This segment is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to section 
466-A.
(2)  From the confluence of the Mattawamkeag River to the confluence of 
Cambolasse Stream - Class B.  This segment is subject to a sustenance fishing 
designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
(3)  From the confluence of Cambolasse Stream to the West Enfield Dam - Class 
B.  This segment is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to 
section 466-A.
(5)  From the West Enfield Dam, including the Stillwater Branch, to the Veazie 
Milford Dam, including all impoundments, and the Stillwater Branch - Class B.  
That portion of this segment upstream of the Milford Dam and upstream of the 
Gilman Falls Dam at Route 43 is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use 
pursuant to section 466-A.
(6)  From the Veazie Milford Dam, but not including the Veazie Milford Dam, to 
the Maine Central Railroad bridge in Bangor-Brewer - Class B.  Further, the 
Legislature finds that the free-flowing habitat of this river segment provides 
irreplaceable social and economic benefits and that this use must be maintained.
(7)  From the Maine Central Railroad bridge in Bangor to a line extended in an 
east-west direction from a point 1.25 miles upstream of the confluence of Reeds 
Brook in Hampden - Class B.  Further, the Legislature finds that the free-flowing 
habitat of this river segment provides irreplaceable social and economic benefits 
and that this use must be maintained.
Sec. 7.  38 MRSA §467, sub-§7, ¶B, as repealed and replaced by PL 1989, c. 
764, §7, is amended to read:
B.  Penobscot River, East Branch Drainage.
(1)  East Branch of the Penobscot River, main stem.
(a)  Above its confluence with Grand Lake Mattagamon - Class A.
(b)  From the dam at the outlet of Grand Lake Mattagamon to a point located 
1,000 feet downstream from the dam - Class A.  This segment is subject to a 
sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
(c)  From a point located 1,000 feet downstream from the dam at the outlet of 
Grand Lake Mattagamon to its confluence with the West Branch - Class AA.  
This segment is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to 
section 466-A.
(d)  That portion of the East Branch in T.6 R.8 W.E.L.S. is subject to a 
sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
(2)  East Branch of the Penobscot River, tributaries - Class A unless otherwise 
specified.
(a)  All tributaries, any portion of which is located within the boundaries of 
Baxter State Park - Class AA.
(b)  Sawtelle Brook, from a point located 1,000 feet downstream from the 
dam at the outlet of Sawtelle Deadwater to its confluence with the Seboeis 
River - Class AA.
(c)  Seboeis River, from the outlet of Snowshoe Lake to its confluence with 
the East Branch - Class AA.
(d)  Wassataquoik Stream, from the boundary of Baxter State Park to its 
confluence with the East Branch - Class AA.
(e)  Webster Brook, from a point located 1,000 feet downstream from the 
dam at the outlet of Telos Lake to its confluence with Webster Lake - Class 
AA.
Sec. 8.  38 MRSA §467, sub-§7, ¶D, as amended by PL 1999, c. 277, §11, is 
further amended to read:
D.  Mattawamkeag River Drainage.
(1)  Mattawamkeag River, main stem.
(a)  From the confluence of the East Branch and the West Branch to the 
Kingman-Mattawamkeag boundary - Class A.
(b)  From the Kingman-Mattawamkeag boundary to its confluence with the 
Penobscot River - Class AA.
(2)  Mattawamkeag River, tributaries - Class A unless otherwise specified.
(a)  East Branch Mattawamkeag River above Red Bridge - Class B.
(b)  West Branch Mattawamkeag River from Interstate 95 to its confluence 
with Mattawamkeag Lake - Class B.  This segment is subject to a sustenance 
fishing designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
(b-1)  West Branch of the Mattawamkeag River from its source at 
Rockabema Lake to Interstate 95 - Class A.  This segment is subject to a 
sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
(c)  Fish Stream - Class B.
Sec. 9.  38 MRSA §467, sub-§13, as amended by PL 2009, c. 163, §9, is further 
amended to read:
13.  St. Croix River Basin.
A.  St. Croix River, main stem.
(1)  Except as otherwise provided, from the outlet of Chiputneticook Lakes to its 
confluence with the Woodland Lake impoundment, those waters lying within the 
State - Class A.  This segment is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use 
pursuant to section 466-A.
(2)  Those waters impounded in the Grand Falls Flowage including those waters 
between Route 1 (Princeton and Indian Township) and Grand Falls Dam - Class 
GPA.  These waters are subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to 
section 466-A.
(3)  Woodland Lake impoundment - Class C.
(4)  From the Woodland Dam to tidewater, those waters lying within the State, 
including all impoundments - Class C.
B.  St. Croix River, tributaries, those waters lying within the State - Class B unless 
otherwise specified.
(1)  All tributaries entering upstream from the dam at Calais, the drainage areas 
of which are wholly within the State - Class A unless otherwise classified.
(2)  Tomah Stream - Class AA.  This stream is subject to a sustenance fishing 
designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
(3)  Monument Brook - Class A.
(4)  Waters connecting the Chiputneticook Lakes, including The Thoroughfare, 
Forest City Stream and Mud Lake Stream - Class A.
(5) Berry Brook, George Brook, Huntley Brook, Musquash Stream, Flipper 
Creek, Patten Pond Stream and all segments of the West Branch of the St. Croix 
River between the West Grand Lake Dam and Route 1 - Class A.  These waters 
are subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
Sec. 10.  38 MRSA §467, sub-§15, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 1989, c. 
764, §16, is amended to read:
A.  St. John River, main stem.
(1)  From the confluence of the Northwest Branch and the Southwest Branch to a 
point located one mile above the foot of Big Rapids in Allagash - Class AA.  This 
segment is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to section 
466-A.
(2)  From a point located one mile above the foot of Big Rapids in Allagash to 
the international bridge in Fort Kent, those waters lying within the State, 
including all impoundments - Class A.
(3)  From the international bridge in Fort Kent to the international bridge in 
Madawaska, those waters lying within the State, including all impoundments - 
Class B.
(4)  From the international bridge in Madawaska to where the international 
boundary leaves the river in Hamlin, those waters lying within the State, 
including all impoundments - Class C.
Sec. 11.  38 MRSA §467, sub-§15, ¶C, as amended by PL 2017, c. 137, Pt. B, 
§9, is further amended to read:
C.  Aroostook River Drainage.
(1)  Aroostook River, main stem.
(a)  From the confluence of Millinocket Stream and Munsungan Stream to 
the Route 11 bridge - Class AA.  This segment is subject to a sustenance 
fishing designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
(b)  From the Route 11 bridge to the Sheridan Dam - Class B.  This segment 
is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
(c)  From the Sheridan Dam to its confluence with Presque Isle Stream, 
including all impoundments - Class B.  This segment is subject to a 
sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
(d)  From its confluence with Presque Isle Stream to a point located 3.0 miles 
upstream of the intake of the Caribou water supply, including all 
impoundments - Class C.  This segment is subject to a sustenance fishing 
designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
(e)  From a point located 3.0 miles upstream of the intake of the Caribou 
water supply to a point located 100 yards downstream of the intake of the 
Caribou water supply, including all impoundments - Class B.  This segment 
is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
(f)  From a point located 100 yards downstream of the intake of the Caribou 
water supply to the international boundary, including all impoundments - 
Class C.  This segment is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use 
pursuant to section 466-A.
(2)  Aroostook River, tributaries, those waters lying within the State - Class A 
unless otherwise specified.
(a)  All tributaries of the Aroostook River entering below the confluence of 
the Machias River that are not otherwise classified - Class B.
(b)  Little Machias River and its tributaries - Class A.
(c)  Little Madawaska River and its tributaries, including Madawaska Lake 
tributaries above the Caribou-Connor Township line - Class A.
(d)  Machias River, from the outlet of Big Machias Lake to the Aroostook 
River - Class AA.  This segment is subject to a sustenance fishing designated 
use pursuant to section 466-A.
(e)  Millinocket Stream, from the outlet of Millinocket Lake to its confluence 
with Munsungan Stream - Class AA.
(f)  Munsungan Stream, from the outlet of Little Munsungan Lake to its 
confluence with Millinocket Stream - Class AA.
(g)  Presque Isle Stream and its tributaries above the Mapleton-Presque Isle 
town line - Class A.
(h)  St. Croix Stream from its confluence with Hall Brook in T.9, R.5, 
W.E.L.S. to its confluence with the Aroostook River - Class AA.
(j)  Scopan Stream from the outlet of Scopan Lake to its confluence with the 
Aroostook River - Class C.
(k)  Limestone Stream from the Long Road bridge to the Canadian border - 
Class C.
(l)  Beaver Brook and its tributaries (T.14 R.6 W.E.L.S., T.14 R.5 W.E.L.S., 
T.13 R.5 W.E.L.S., Portage Lake, Ashland, Castle Hill) - Class A.
(m)  Gardner Brook and its tributaries (T.14 R.5 W.E.L.S., T.13 R.5 
W.E.L.S., Wade) - Class A.
Sec. 12.  38 MRSA §467, sub-§15, ¶E, as amended by PL 2015, c. 12, §1, is 
further amended to read:
E.  Meduxnekeag River Drainage.
(1)  Meduxnekeag River, main stem.
(a)  From the outlet of Meduxnekeag Lake to the international boundary - 
Class B.  This segment is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use 
pursuant to section 466-A.
(2)  Meduxnekeag River, tributaries - Class B unless otherwise specified.
(a)  North Branch of the Meduxnekeag River and its tributaries above the 
Monticello - T.C, R.2, W.E.L.S. boundary - Class A.
(a-1)  The North Branch of the Meduxnekeag River and its tributaries, 
including Dead Stream, from the source in T.8 R.3 W.E.L.S. to the 
international boundary are subject to a sustenance fishing designated use 
pursuant to 466-A.
(b)  Moose Brook and its tributaries, upstream of the Ludlow Road in 
Ludlow - Class A.
(c)  South Branch of the Meduxnekeag River and its tributaries, upstream of 
the Oliver Road in Cary - Class A.
(d)  Captain Ambrose Bear Stream and tributaries upstream of the Burnt 
Brow Bridge in Hammond - Class A.
(e)  All tributaries from the outlet of Meduxnekeag Lake to the international 
boundary are subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to 
466-A.
Sec. 13.  38 MRSA §467, sub-§15, ¶F, as amended by PL 2017, c. 137, Pt. B, 
§10, is further amended to read:
F.  St. John River, minor tributaries, those waters lying within the State - Class A 
unless otherwise specified.
(1)  Except as otherwise classified, all minor tributaries of the St. John River 
entering below the international bridge in Fort Kent, those waters lying within the 
State - Class B.
(2)  Baker Stream and Baker Branch of the St. John River, from the headwaters at 
the Upper First St. John Pond to their confluence with the Southwest Branch - 
Class AA.
(3)  Big Black River, from the international boundary to its confluence with the 
St. John River - Class AA.
(4)  Northwest Branch, from the outlet of Beaver Pond in T.12, R.17, W.E.L.S. to 
its confluence with the St. John River - Class AA.
(5)  Prestile Stream from its source to Route 1A in Mars Hill - Class A.  This 
segment is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use pursuant to section 
466-A.
(a)  Prestile Stream from Route 1A in Mars Hill to the international boundary 
- Class B.  This segment is subject to a sustenance fishing designated use 
pursuant to section 466-A.
(6)  Southwest Branch, from a point located 5 miles downstream of the 
international boundary to its confluence with the Baker Branch - Class AA.
(7)  Violette Stream and its tributaries, from its source to the confluence with 
Caniba Brook - Class A.
Sec. 14.  38 MRSA §468, sub-§8, ¶P is enacted to read:
P.  Perry.
(1)  Boyden Stream - Class B.  This segment is subject to a sustenance fishing 
designated use pursuant to section 466-A.
Sec. 15.  38 MRSA §469, sub-§7, ¶H-1 is enacted to read:
H-1.  Perry.
(1)  Tidal waters south of a line running from Gleason Point easterly to the 
international boundary, thence southerly to the town line with Quoddy, thence 
westerly to the Old Eastport Road, including Boyden Stream and the Little River 
- Class SB.  These waters are subject to a sustenance fishing designated use 
pursuant to section 466-A.
Sec. 16.  Rulemaking.  The Department of Environmental Protection shall adopt 
rules no later than March 1, 2020 that calculate and establish water quality criteria 
protective of human health for toxic pollutants and the sustenance fishing designated use 
as established pursuant to this Act.  Rules adopted under this section are routine technical 
rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill creates a sustenance fishing designated use as a subcategory of the 
applicable fishing designated use for certain specified water body segments within 
Maine’s water classification program where there is or may be sustenance fishing or 
increased fish consumption by members of the Indian tribes in Maine or other Maine 
citizens.  This bill also requires that the Department of Environmental Protection adopt 
routine technical rules no later than March 1, 2020 that calculate and establish water 
quality criteria protective of human health for toxic pollutants and the sustenance fishing 
designated use as established by this bill.  This bill limits the scope of the sustenance 
fishing designated use created by this bill by providing that, for all purposes, the 
sustenance fishing designated use created by this bill is deemed protected through water 
quality criteria for human health calculated and established for the identified water body 
segments.