The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has proposed sweeping and substantive changes to its Chapter 2 rules, which govern permit applications, appeals, permit modifications and suspensions, and other...more
In a process that began under the LePage Administration, and then continued after revisions from the Mills Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finally granted a petition from the Maine Department of...more
On September 28, 2021, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection approved a new policy on remote attendance at its meetings. The new policy, titled Policy Regarding Remote Participation in Board Proceedings, allows board...more
On December 1, 2020, the Maine Climate Council released its final report, Maine Won’t Wait, A Four-Year Plan for Climate Action (the “Climate Plan”).
In June 2019, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed legislation creating the...more
Recently, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court (the Law Court) issued a decision that could impact developers’ ability to apply for development permits if the developer proposes to use property over which the developer has only...more
Recognizing the need for citizens to gather and debate at town meetings, and in an effort to protect the health and safety of all those in attendance, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has...more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit recently vacated an air permit issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the construction of a new compressor station proposed by Algonquin...more
6/12/2020
/ Air Pollution ,
Department of Environmental Protection ,
Energy Projects ,
Infrastructure ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Permits ,
Pipelines ,
State and Local Government ,
Supply Shortages ,
Vacated
For the first time in over 50 years, the City of Portland is rewriting its Land Use Code, which is found in Chapter 14 of the City’s Code of Ordinances. The effort involves several substantive policy changes aimed at making...more
1/13/2020
/ City Planning Departments ,
Construction Project ,
Impact Fees ,
Land Developers ,
Land Use Restrictions ,
Local Ordinance ,
Municipalities ,
Property Owners ,
Real Estate Development ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Rulemaking Process ,
State and Local Government ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Zoning Laws
Pierce Atwood’s Environmental and Land Use Practice Groups are pleased to provide a summary of key environmental legislation from the 129th Maine Legislature’s First Regular Session, which adjourned sine die, on June 20,...more
7/1/2019
/ Administrative Authority ,
Air Quality Standards ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Fishing Industry ,
Groundwater ,
Groundwater Management Plan ,
Legislative Agendas ,
National Emissions Standards ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Recycling ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Solid Waste ,
State and Local Government ,
Subdivision
On June 27, 2018, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) posted for public comment a draft petition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to remove most of the state from the Ozone Transport Region...more
On May 17, 2018, after a lengthy and tortuous rulemaking that included substantive review and authorization by the Legislature, but only if certain changes were made, the Board of Environmental Protection adopted several...more
Staff of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC or Commission) will introduce for discussion at the February 14, 2018 Commission meeting proposed revisions to the Commission’s application of the adjacency principle,...more