Title 12, Title 12

1. Public reserved lands. In every township or plantation existing on October 3, 1973 or organized after that date there must be reserved, as the Legislature directs, 1,000 acres of land, and in the same proportion in all tracts less than a township, for the exclusive benefit of …

1. Legislative findings. Whereas expenditures from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund established under section 1849, subsection 2 must be consistent with the public trust limitations embodied in the Constitution of Maine, Article X; and the Constitution of Maine, Article …

1. Fund established. All revenues from the activities of the bureau under section 1862 must be deposited with the Treasurer of State to be credited to the Submerged Lands Fund, which is established as a nonlapsing, dedicated fund and referred to in this section as the "fund." Any…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Commercial fishing activity" means any activity involving the landing or processing of shellfish, finfish or other natural products of the sea or …

1. Creation of fund. The Shore and Harbor Management Fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is established as a nonlapsing fund to support shore and harbor management improvement activities. The fund is administered by the director. 2. Purpose. The purpose of the fund i…

1. Trust established. The Renewable Ocean Energy Trust, referred to in this section as "the trust," is established as a nonlapsing, dedicated fund to be used to protect and enhance the integrity of public trust-related resources and related human uses of the State's submerged lan…

1. Legislative intent; purpose. The Legislature finds that the ownership of certain areas along the State's coast and great ponds is uncertain because portions of the submerged and intertidal lands have been filled in so as now not to be subject to tidal action or below water. Th…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Abandoned watercraft" means any watercraft that is inoperative and neglected, submerged or partially submerged or that has been left by the owner …

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Log" means a portion of the trunk of a felled tree that has not been further processed for any end use. [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).] A-1. "Pulpwo…

1. Site identification process. No later than December 15, 2009, following consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, the Department of Mar…

Whereas the preservation, protection and development of the natural scenic beauty and the unique character of our waterways, wildlife habitats and wilderness recreation resources for this generation and all succeeding generations; the prevention of erosion, droughts, freshets and…

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).] 1. Bounds of the watercourse. "Bounds of the watercourse" means the high-water marks of the shorelines of the lakes and ponds, the hi…

1. Allagash Wilderness Waterway. The Allagash Wilderness Waterway, in this subchapter called the "waterway," is established. The area of the waterway includes the watercourse as defined in section 1872, subsection 12 and all land area and all waters within one mile of the bounds …

The bureau shall administer the waterway under this subchapter, with the exception of powers to control activities previously delegated by law to the department's Bureau of Forestry, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Board of Environmental Protection. The di…

1. Power watercraft. Power watercraft may be used in the waterway only as follows. A. Watercraft equipped with power propulsion of any kind or any other motorized equipment are allowed on Telos Lake, Round Pond (T. 6, R. 11) and Chamberlain Lake as permitted by rule of the bureau…

1. Structures. New structures or expansions of existing structures are not permitted within the restricted zone, except those structures essential to state service agencies, those structures determined by the bureau to be essential in maintaining water level controls and temporar…

The bureau may acquire, on behalf of the State, land, improvements or any interest therein and water and power rights within the boundaries of the waterway or adjacent thereto by purchase, lease or gift and to enter into agreements concerning the same. Any land acquired that is a…

Acquisition of property by the bureau by eminent domain pursuant to section 1877 must be made in the manner provided in Title 35-A, chapter 65.

As soon as possible after availability of funds after December 29, 1966 the bureau shall proceed to acquire title in fee simple to land within the restricted zone. The bureau shall acquire within the restricted zone any other rights the bureau determines necessary or convenient t…

1. Restricted zone; timber harvesting. Timber harvesting operations are not permitted within the restricted zone, except: A. By direction of the bureau for the purpose of maintaining healthy forest conditions; or [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2…

1. New roads. The bureau has sole control of access to the waterway from any public road. 2. Existing roads. Existing private roads within the waterway remain privately owned as existing. The bureau may direct the discontinuance and relocation of any portion of such a road that i…

Except as provided in this section, the bureau may determine the location of access points, control stations and watercourse crossings within the waterway. [PL 2005, c. 598, §1 (RPR); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).] 1. Spring, summer and fall…

Permits issued by the bureau under this subchapter have the force and effect of law. No timber harvesting operation may be undertaken except in conformance with this subchapter. [PL 2001, c. 604, §16 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).] For…

The bureau shall fix the duties of and employ permanently or part-time any employees and other personnel, subject to the Civil Service Law, the bureau considers necessary in the discharge of its duties under this subchapter.

Except for revenues resulting from an increase in fees in the waterway that, as provided in this chapter, accrue to a dedicated revenue account to be used for capital improvements in the waterway, all money received by the bureau with respect to the operation and management of th…

Any applicant for a timber harvesting permit who is aggrieved by a decision of the bureau relating to timber harvesting operations may appeal in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter VII.

There is established the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council, referred to in this section as "the council," pursuant to Title 5, section 12004‑I, subsection 3‑D. [PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, §12 (RAL).] 1. Duties. The council shall: A. Meet at least twice annually; [PL 2007…

The Treasurer of State shall establish a dedicated, nonlapsing unit called the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Permanent Endowment Fund as a separate unit within the Allagash Waterway account and shall manage the account as a state-held trust. Subject to the approval of the Governor…

The commissioner shall report on or before March 1st of each year to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over conservation matters regarding the state of the waterway, including its mission and goals, administration, education and interpretive prog…

There is established within the bureau the Maine Conservation Corps, referred to in this chapter as "the Corps," to provide job training, education and work opportunities for the economically disadvantaged, to improve public property for the increased use and enjoyment of the pub…

The Corps shall strive to include a diversity of participants. Priority must be given to those whose family income is 150% or less of the nonfarm income official poverty line as defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget and as revised annually in accordance with the …

1. Types of projects. Projects undertaken by the Corps include, but are not limited to, projects such as: A. Forestry, nursery and silvicultural operations; [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. NN, §2 (NEW).] B. Wildlife habitat conservation, rehabilitation and improvement; [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt…

Projects to be carried out by the Corps are limited to projects on publicly owned lands or, if not on public lands, under the sponsorship and supervision of a public agency or nonprofit organization.

The director shall employ a director of the Corps and may employ other personnel as are required to accomplish the purposes of this subchapter. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. NN, §2 (NEW).] The director of the Corps shall work with other agencies and organizations to design the Corps to p…

Members of the Corps who are paid wages or a living allowance through the General Fund account of the Corps or through its dedicated account must receive personal liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance, and those who meet the income guidelines in section 1891‑A m…

The assignment of members of the Corps may not result in the displacement of existing employees of the sponsor, including any employees who have been temporarily laid off by the sponsor. For purposes of this section, "displacement" means both total and partial displacement, inclu…

There is established within the Corps the State Environmental Resource Volunteer Effort Program, referred to in this subchapter as "SERVE/Maine," to create, promote and manage volunteer and intern opportunities with public agencies that are responsible for protecting, developing,…

SERVE/Maine shall ensure that volunteers are covered by workplace injury and liability insurance.

Volunteers and interns may perform work and services that are described in section 1891-B. Volunteers and interns must be placed in federal, state or local public agencies or in nonprofit organizations and perform work or services that benefit the public. The volunteer and intern…

Sponsoring natural resource agencies may provide stipends to volunteers and interns not to exceed the minimum wage and may reimburse volunteers or interns for work-related expenses. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. NN, §3 (NEW).] Funds for stipends must be deposited by sponsoring agencies i…

Private organizations and individuals may donate money to SERVE/Maine for general or specific purposes. The funds must be expended to further the purposes of the program.

The director shall establish trails on state-owned lands and encourage the establishment of trails on private lands by government agencies and private organizations. The director is authorized to negotiate and acquire any interests determined necessary to establish and protect tr…

1. Office established. There is established within the bureau the Off-road Recreational Vehicle Office, referred to in this subchapter as the "office." The office includes the following. A. Within available funds, the snowmobile program shall develop and maintain snowmobile trail…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Excavation" means an excavation for borrow, topsoil, clay or silt, whether alone or in combination. [PL 2001, c. 466, §7 (NEW).] B. "Recreational management area" means an area formerly …

1. Appointment and composition. The Snowmobile Trail Fund Advisory Council, referred to in this section as "the advisory council" and established by Title 5, section 12004‑I, subsection 3‑B, consists of 11 members. The director or the director's designee serves as an ex officio m…

The director shall acquire, construct and maintain, within the funds available, public facilities for boats in the waters of the State, including but not limited to launching ramps, parking sites and access roads. Waters of the State include any waters within the territorial limi…