Opinion ID: 1910079
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Compliance with Class C Standards

Text: [¶ 40] FPL finally argues that the Project meets the definition of Class C water quality standards under 38 M.R.S.A. § 465(4)(C) because the Project does not discharge pollutants. The Board found this interpretation of the statute too narrow and inconsistent with a long line of FERC, EPA and [Department] interpretations of the applicable laws vested in them. [¶ 41] The Class C water quality standards provide that [d]ischarges to Class C waters may cause some changes to aquatic life. 38 M.R.S.A. § 465(4)(C). Title 38 M.R.S. § 361-A(1) (2006) defines discharge to mean any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emptying, dumping, disposing or other addition of any pollutant to water of the State. Title 38 M.R.S. § 361-A(4-A) (2006) defines [p]ollutant as dredged spoil, solid waste, junk, incinerator residue, sewage, refuse, effluent, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemicals, biological or radiological materials, oil, petroleum products or by-products, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, dirt and industrial, municipal, domestic, commercial or agricultural wastes of any kind. [16] [¶ 42] We once again defer to the Board's expertise in interpreting this provision. The Board found FPL's argument unpersuasive because this reading of the law is too narrow and is inconsistent with a long line of FERC, EPA and [Department] interpretations of the applicable laws vested in them. The Board's interpretation is reasonable because, without the discharge requirement, the Class C certification process for hydropower impoundments would be no more than rubber stamp approval. See, e.g., S.D. Warren Co., 2005 ME 27, ¶ 17, 868 A.2d at 217 (interpreting the term discharge in the Clean Water Act to include the addition of water from one body to another), aff'd, ___ U.S. ___, 126 S.Ct. 1843, 164 L.Ed.2d 625 (2006). [¶ 43] Because we defer to the agency interpretation, and the Board's findings are reasonable, we affirm the Board's decision. The entry is: Judgment affirmed.