Opinion ID: 4516935
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Adverse Impact

Text: [¶31] There is no dispute that the Commission found that the transmission line would have an adverse impact on scenic and recreational values; tourism; and local economies. However, NextEra contends that the Commission abused its discretion by deferring to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) on the issue of mitigation of these adverse impacts. NextEra does not argue that the Commission failed to consider the impact on scenic and recreational values—only that it did not properly consider mitigation. This argument is unpersuasive. [¶32] In determining public need, the Commission must take scenic and recreational values into account. See 35-A M.R.S. § 3132(6). Section 3132(6) also provides that the Commission “shall . . . consider the findings of the Department of Environmental Protection.” NextEra asserts that “there is no language in the statutory scheme of [s]ection 3132 that authorizes the Commission to delegate the consideration of the mitigation measures to another state agency.” While the Commission recognized that it maintains coextensive jurisdiction with the DEP and the LUPC with regard to any impact 18 on scenic and recreational values, it did not defer to those agencies its own consideration pursuant to section 3132(6). [¶33] Following the mandates of section 3132(6), the Commission properly considered scenic and recreational values and concluded that they would be adversely impacted by the NECEC project. That the Commission did not undertake consideration of any mitigation of those adverse impacts is immaterial because the statute imposes no such obligation on the Commission. See id. We reject NextEra’s argument on this point.