Maine State Overview

The State of Maine and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MaineDEP) Stormwater Program was implemented to work toward protecting and restoring surface water and groundwater impacted by stormwater. The Maine Stormwater Program includes the regulation of stormwater under three principle regulations:

1. Site Location of Development Law (Site Law).

2. Stormwater Management Law.

3. Waste Discharge Law through the Maine Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MEPDES).

An owner or operator of a project site has the following rules and regultions to consider when applying for permit coverage under the Maine Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MEPDES):

1. If an owner or operator will be engaging in construction activity (clearing, grading, or excavation) that will disturb one (1) acre or more land, or will disturb less than one (1) acre of total land area but is part of a common plan of development or sale, and the common plan of development or sale will ultimately disturb equal to or greater than one (1) acre he/she must apply for permit coverage.

2. Any other construction activity designated by the MaineDEP, based on the potential for contribution to a violation of Water Quality Standard (WQS) or for a significant contribution of pollutants to State waters, he/she must apply for MEPDES General Permit coverage for “Site Law” and “Stormwater Management Law.”

• “Site Law” is all construction projects classified as “subdivisions.”

• "Stormwater Management Law" applies to project and portions of projects that do not involve industrial or Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) – Both are handled by the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC).