Title 12, Title 12

The commissioner has the following responsibilities pertaining to natural areas. [PL 1999, c. 556, §13 (NEW).] 1. Conservation of natural areas. The commissioner shall promote conservation of natural areas by: A. Making available current and accurate information to all appropriat…

The Natural Areas Conservation Fund is established as a nonlapsing separate account to be administered by the commissioner. Income from gifts, bequests, devises, grants, fees and other sources may be deposited in this fund. All money in the fund and earnings on that money must be…

This subchapter may be known and cited as the "Maine Cave Protection Act."

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following words have the following meanings. [PL 2001, c. 113, §1 (NEW).] 1. Cave. "Cave" means any naturally occurring void, cavity, recess, sinkhole or system of interconnecting passages beneath the surface…

A person must obtain the prior written permission of the owner to excavate or remove an archaeological, paleontological, prehistoric or historic feature of a cave.

All field investigations, explorations and recovery operations in a cave must ensure that the ability to recover and preserve historic, scientific, archaeological and educational information is not impeded. The excavation or removal of an artifact, object, specimen or material fr…

Recreational caving is a recreational or harvesting activity for the purposes of limited liability of landowners under Title 14, section 159-A.

1. Defacing or damaging cave prohibited. A person may not deface or damage a cave. A person defaces or damages a cave if the person, without the prior written permission of the owner: A. Breaks, breaks off, cracks, carves upon, writes or otherwise marks upon or in any manner dest…

The Division of Geology, Natural Areas and Coastal Resources and the agencies having jurisdiction over state-owned lands have jurisdiction, as set forth in this subchapter, over all state-owned lands for the purpose of mineral development and mining on that land. The Bureau of Re…

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1985, c. 201, §2 (NEW).] 1. Development. "Development" means all of the methods used in the preparation of a known and presumed economically extractable ore de…

1. Authority to explore. An individual over 18 years of age or other person may enter upon state lands, including lands held under specific trust instruments when the trust is consistent with mineral development, on receipt of an exploration permit from the director of the survey…

Nothing in this subchapter may be deemed to relieve any explorer or mining lessee from the obligation to comply with all applicable environmental or other regulatory laws and rules of the State.

Annual registration shall be required as provided in this section. [PL 1985, c. 201, §3 (NEW).] 1. Registration. Any person conducting mineral exploration where the total exploration expenses incurred in a calendar year exceed $25,000 on private, leased or otherwise acquired land…