An Act to Require Industry Training and Certification for Persons Undertaking Corrosion Prevention and Mitigation for Bridges
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1640
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: CHIPMAN, WILLIAMS, HARRINGTON, JACKSON, NANGLE, ANKELES, CRAFTS, MASON, THERIAULT
Amends: 23 MRSA §357

Legislative Document
No. 1640
S.P. 657
In Senate, April 12, 2023
An Act to Require Industry Training and Certification for Persons 
Undertaking Corrosion Prevention and Mitigation for Bridges
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CHIPMAN of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative WILLIAMS of Bar Harbor and
Senators: HARRINGTON of York, President JACKSON of Aroostook, LaFOUNTAIN of 
Kennebec, NANGLE of Cumberland, Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, CRAFTS of 
Newcastle, MASON of Lisbon, THERIAULT of Fort Kent.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  23 MRSA §357 is enacted to read:
§357.  Corrosion prevention and mitigation; bridges
The Department of Transportation shall adopt rules governing corrosion prevention 
and mitigation methods for bridges wholly or partly under the control of the State for 
projects costing $50,000 or more.  Rules adopted pursuant to this section must include, but 
are not limited to, establishing a process for ensuring that corrosion prevention and 
mitigation activities are carried out in accordance with established corrosion prevention 
and mitigation standards, requiring the use of personnel who are industry-trained and 
industry-certified in corrosion prevention and mitigation methods on any type of substrate 
or surface and requiring plans to prevent environmental degradation that might result from 
corrosion prevention and mitigation activities.  Rules adopted pursuant to this section are 
routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  Rulemaking.  Rulemaking conducted pursuant to this Act is governed by 
this section.
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Corrosion" means the deterioration of a material, usually a metal or concrete, that 
results from a chemical or electrochemical reaction with its environment.
B.  "Corrosion prevention and mitigation" means:
(1)  The preparation, application, installation, removal and general maintenance as 
necessary of a protective coating system, including but not limited to:
(a) Surface preparation and coating application on the interior or exterior of 
the surface;
(b) Removal of a lead-based or other hazardous coating;
(c) Painting of structural steel fabricated for installation; and
(d) Installation of coatings and surfacing on concrete or other cementitious 
substrates; and
(2) With respect to bridges, any activities related to corrosion prevention, including 
cathodic protection, that in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to this Act must 
be performed by industry-trained and industry-certified personnel.
C.  "Corrosion prevention project" means a project costing $50,000 or more consisting 
of corrosion prevention and mitigation activities performed during construction, 
alteration, maintenance or repair work or at any other time necessary on bridge 
infrastructure.
D.  "Industry-trained and industry-certified" means:
(1)  Completion of, or current enrollment in for at least the entire duration of a 
corrosion prevention project, a state-certified apprenticeship training program that 
requires concurrent on-the-job training and classroom instruction for an individual 
to be considered adequately knowledgeable to perform corrosion prevention and 
mitigation activities; or
(2)  Confirmation from a corrosion prevention industry credentialing organization 
whose standards for corrosion prevention and mitigation meet state requirements 
that an individual is adequately trained to perform corrosion prevention and 
mitigation activities or conduct inspections.
2.  Rulemaking. In adopting rules to implement the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, 
section 357, the Department of Transportation shall adopt rules that:
A.  Provide the same standards and requirements for corrosion prevention and 
mitigation methods as are established by the Society for Protective Coatings for its 
coating application specialist program; the National Association of Corrosion 
Engineers for its certified coating applicator program; and the National Association of 
Corrosion Engineers International Institute;
B.  Require the use of industry-trained and industry-certified personnel:
(1)  To perform corrosion prevention and mitigation activities on any type of 
substrate or surface; and
(2)  As inspectors to ensure best practices and standards are followed in corrosion 
prevention projects; and
C.  For all corrosion prevention projects, require the development of a plan to prevent 
environmental degradation that might result from corrosion prevention and mitigation 
activities.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the adoption of rules by the Department of Transportation governing 
projects costing $50,000 or more consisting of corrosion prevention and mitigation for 
bridge infrastructure.  Rules adopted pursuant to this legislation must include establishing 
a process for ensuring that corrosion prevention and mitigation activities are performed in 
accordance with established corrosion prevention and mitigation standards, requiring the 
use of personnel who are industry-trained and industry-certified in corrosion prevention 
and mitigation methods and requiring plans to prevent environmental degradation that 
might result from corrosion prevention and mitigation activities.