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Maine's Water Quality Standards
Contact
- Susanne Meidel, 207-441-3612
Introduction
This page is intended to provided a general listing of Maine's "water quality standards", as this phrase is used by the Maine DEP's water quality and assessment program in considering ambient water quality, as well as the waste discharge licensing program. These standards are one of the principal foundations for the protection of water quality in Maine.
A majority of these standards are also part of the water quality "docket" of standards that is maintained with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Changes to docket standards require the approval of the USEPA for purposes of implementation of the federal Clean Water Act. See the Docket Page for more information on docket standards. See also Water Quality Standards, 40 CFR Part 131 (federal rules) (off-site).
Note that a number of other laws administered by the DEP help to maintain, restore and protect water quality in Maine. Some of these laws provide requrements specific to activities in certain locations, such as activities in or close to protected natural resources (see Natural Resources Protection Act). Some provide additional requirements specific to certain types of activity with significant potential impacts, such as mining, activities disturbing one or more acres (Stormwater Management Law. and the large developments regulated under Maine's Site Location Law. The short and basic requirements of the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Law mean that activities that don't otherwise need a permit should still include measures to prevent unreasonable erosion.
Statute (off-site links)
- The following sections are from Article 1, Organization and General Provisions
- Definitions, 38 MRSA 361-A
- Waiver or modification of protection and improvement laws, 38 MRSA 363-D
- The following sections are from Article 1-F, Nonpoint Source Pollution Program
- Definitions, 38 MRSA 410-H
- Program implementation, 38 MRSA 410-I
- The following sections are from Article 3, Pollution Control
- Conditions of licenses (waste discharge licenses), 38 MRSA 414-A
- Publicly owned treatment works, 38 MRSA 414-B
- Color pollution control, 38 MRSA 414-C
- Certain deposits and discharges prohibited, 38 MRSA 417
- Log driving and storage, 38 MRSA 418
- Protection of the lower Penobscot River, 38 MRSA 418-A
- Prohibition on the use of tributyltin as an antifouling agent, 38 MRSA 419-A
- Goals for dates of removal of transformers containing polychlorinated biphenyls, 38 MRSA 419-B
- Certain deposits and discharges prohibited, 38 MRSA 420
- Discharge of waste from watercraft, 38 MRSA 423
- Discharge of waste from motor vehicles, 38 MRSA 423-A
- The following sections are from Article 3, Enforcement
- Enforcement, 38 MRSA 451
- Time schedule variances, 38 MRSA 451-A
- The following sections are from Article 4-A, Water Classification Program
- Classification of Maine waters, 38 MRSA 464
- Standards for classification of fresh surface waters, 38 MRSA 465
- Standards for classification of lakes and ponds, 38 MRSA 465-A
- Standards for classification of estuarine and marine waters, 38 MRSA 465-B
- Standards of classification of groundwater, 38 MRSA 465-C
- Definitions, 38 MRSA 466
- Classification of major river basins, 38 MRSA 467
- Classification of minor drainages, 38 MRSA 468
- Classification of estuarine and marine waters, 38 MRSA 469
- Classification of groundwater, 38 MRSA 470
- In-stream flow and water level requirements; rules 38 MRSA 470-H
- Approval criteria, 38 MRSA 636 (hydropower projects)
Rules (off-site links)
- Administrative Regulation for Hydropower Projects, 06-096 CMR 450 and 06-061 CMR 11
- Regulations Concerning the Use of Aquatic Pesticides, 06-096 CMR 514
- (Interim Effluent Limitations and Controls for the Discharge of Mercury), 06-096 CMR 519
- Surface Waters Toxic Control Program, 06-096 CMR 530
- Discontinuance of Wastewater Treatment Lagoons, 06-096 CMR 550
- Stormwater and Combined Sewer Overflows, 06-096 CMR 570
- Snow Dumps: Exemption from Waste Discharge License, 06-096 CMR 573
- Classification Attainment Evaluation Using Biological Criteria for Rivers and Streams, 06-096 CMR 579
- Regulations Relating to Water Quaity Evaluations, 06-096 CMR 581
- Regulations Relating to Temperature, 06-096 CMR 582
- Surface Water Quality for Toxic Pollutants, 06-096 CMR 584
- Identification of Fish Spawning Areas and Designation of Salmonid Spawning Areas, 06-096 CMR 585
- Rules Pertaining to Discharges to Class A Waters, 06-096 CMR 586
- In-stream Flows and Lake and Pond Water Levels, 06-096 CMR 587
