3 - State Agencies

Introduction

State agencies or departments implement, monitor, amend and enforce the laws and policies of the state in their area of jurisdiction. The agencies included in this section were selected because their work directly affects the management, use or protection of Maine's natural resources. Because public health is inextricably linked to the health of the environment, the Bureau of Health and its several divisions are included from the Department of Human Services. Because efforts to protect the environment often include activity in the political arena, and rulemaking falls within its jurisdiction, we include the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions from the Department of the Secretary of State. The Public Utilities Commission describes both the decision-making Commission -- the three-person full-time professional board -- and the state agency that carries out the Commission's work.

Commissioners of each agency are nominated by the Governor, approved by the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee with jurisdiction over that agency, and confirmed by the Senate. Commissioners, in turn, choose their deputy commissioners and sometimes choose to change some bureau directors. The rest of agency staff, in general, hold their posts despite political changes in the Administration. In this section, the Guide lists the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner in the agency introduction, the bureau or division director with the appropriate sub-division, and in some cases other necessary staff contacts.

We have not described every bureau and division of every department, highlighting only those deemed relevant. These are also the only entities found in the organizational charts. When only certain bureaus or divisions are described, all units of the particular department are listed briefly in the overall department introductory section. Boards, commissions and councils which work closely with certain parts of an agency are described immediately following the appropriate agency or bureau. They appear in shaded boxes in the organizational chart. Three appointed boards have such significant and broad regulatory power that they are described separately in Chapter 4.

The web pages for state agencies, their bureaus, divisions and programs are a wealth of information and seem to be updated frequently. Readers will want to check for new and expanded information in addition to consulting the descriptions in this Guide. In general the publications listed are just samples; complete lists and even texts of publications can usually be found online or by calling the agency contact.

Helpful Hint -- The standard email format for state workers is: FirstName.LastName@Maine.gov

A Sample Department Organizational Chart

Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources

• Central Office: East Side Complex, Deering Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 28 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-3871
• Fax: 207-287-7548
• Website: www.state.me.us/agriculture/index.html
• Statutory Citation: 7 MRSA, Sec. 1
• Acting Commissioner: Seth H. "Brad" Bradstreet, III
  

Purpose

The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources was established to improve Maine agriculture using the following strategies:

The Commissioner of Agriculture and boards or commissions within the Department have authority to take actions such as the following:

Organization

The Department is divided into several Divisions: Commissioner's Office; Animal Health and Industry; Market and Production Development; Plant Industry; Quality Assurance and Regulations.

The Division also administers the Animal Welfare Program, the Agricultural Development Program, the Farmland Preservation Program (which, for some projects, acts in conjunction with the Land for Maine's Future Program), the Natural and Rural Resources Program, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

The Department staffs, works with and receives advice from a number of boards and commissions among them the Aroostook Water and Soil Management Board, Integrated Pest Management Council, State Harness Racing Commission, Maine Milk Commission, Seed Potato Board, Potato Marketing Improvement Committee, Pull Events Commission, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Board of Pesticides Control (more about the Board of Pesticides Control in Chapter 4).

• The Board of Pesticides Control

This board, in the Division of Plant Industry, is a citizen-member board that establishes policy in the areas of pesticide sales and use. Division staff members have access to the technical expertise of the Board's staff in order to assist Maine farmers in their efforts to adopt sound chemical management practices. Because the Board has significant regulatory authority, we have highlighted it in Chapter 4, "Special Boards and Commissions."

• The Nutrient Management Board

This Board assists the Nutrient Management Program, in the Division of Animal Health and Industry, in implementing the Nutrient Management Act and by advising the Commissioner on policies and program development relating to nutrient use in agriculture. Issues include: need and production of nutrients on a farm; manure spreading plans; setbacks from sensitive features of farm; use of excess nutrients; need and use of erosion control; financial assistance for manure handling systems and storage; enforcement of ban on winter manure spreading.

• Soil and Water Conservation District Advisory Council

Licenses

• Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Districts are subdivisions of state government and assisted by staff of the Office. Districts are run by local residents who live within the District's boundary. There are sixteen Districts and the jurisdiction for most Districts is along state county boundaries except for two cases in which each District cover two counties and one county (Aroostook) which is so large it has three Districts. Each District is headed by a Board of five Supervisors; two of whom are appointed by the Commissioner and three of whom are elected. There are no qualifications for the position of Supervisor but the two appointed positions do require background information for the Commissioner to review in making his/her appointments. Supervisors can serve for an unlimited number of terms. Districts are required to report annually to the Department of Agriculture in order to receive an annual state grant.

Districts have the authority to carry out flood prevention and various water use/conservation efforts, enter into agreements, furnish financial aid, construct and maintain structures, make equipment and machinery available to landowners for these District projects, and can act as agency of US or State Government in appropriate projects. Districts can and do own property or equipment. Districts establish local priorities for their conservation efforts usually with a focus on agriculture and forestry, although a number of Districts in metropolitan areas today focus on urban issues. Districts hold workshops, set up demonstrations, offer educational programs, review development plans, and set priorities for one-on-one technical assistance at the request of land-owners.

• Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Department of the Attorney General

Natural Resources Division

• Central Office: Cross State Office Building
• Mail Address: 6 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-626-8800
• Fax: 207-626-8812
• Website: www.state.me.us/ag/
• Statutory Citation: 5 MRSA, Sec. 191
• Attorney General: G. Steven Rowe
• Natural Resources Division Chief: Jeffrey Pidot
  

Purpose

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer for the state. One of four constitutional officers, the Attorney General is elected by the legislature. Like them, the Attorney General is limited to serving four 2-year terms. The Office is authorized to:

In addition, the Attorney General has a wide range of duties which the Office is specifically directed to perform. The Attorney General also serves as an ex officio member on some state authorities and commissions, including the Baxter State Park Authority.

Organization

The Attorney General is the chief executive of the Office of the Attorney General. The Office consists of the divisions overseeing criminal, civil and investigatory responsibilities. The Divisions are General Government, Health & Human Services, Professional Regulatory, Investigations, Litigation, Public Protection, Criminal, Financial Crimes and Civil Rights, and Natural Resources (described below). The Divisions report to the Attorney General and the Chief Deputy Attorney General.

Program

The Natural Resources Division provides legal services to the state's natural resources, environmental and land use regulatory agencies. These include the following: the Departments of Environmental Protection, Conservation, Marine Resources, Agriculture, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Economic and Community Development, the State Planning Office, the Board of Environmental Protection, the Land Use Regulation Commission, the Pesticides Control Board, the Land for Maine's Future Board, the Fund Insurance Review Board, and the Maine Milk Commission. The Division's work extends to enforcement and defensive litigation as well as administrative law matters and legal advice and assistance provided to the agencies. The Division does not perform investigations of potential violations, which are handled by the agencies.

Department of Conservation

• Central Office: East Side Campus, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 22 State House Station, Augusta 04333-0022
• Telephone: 207-287-2211
• Fax: 207-287-2400
• Website: www.state.me.us/doc
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sect. 5011
• Commissioner: Patrick McGowan
• Deputy Commissioner: Eliza Townsend
  

Purpose

The Department of Conservation was established to preserve, protect and enhance the land resources of the State of Maine. The purposes of the Department include the following:

Organization

The Department consists of five major bureaus: Parks and Lands, Forest Service, Geology and Natural Areas, Land Use Regulation Commission, and General Services. The Department is led by a Commissioner who is responsible for the overall executive management of the Department and whose staff oversee the information and education, safety, regulatory and legislative, and long range departmental planning efforts.

Program

Department of Conservation programs are outlined in the sections on individual bureaus that follow: Parks and Lands, Forestry, Geology and Natural Areas. Because of its unique character, the Land Use Regulation Commission is described separately in Chapter 4.

Bureau of Parks and Lands

• Central Office: East Side Campus, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 22 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-3821
• Fax: 207-287-3823
• Website: www.maine.gov/doc/parks/index.html
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sec.5016
• Director: Will Harris
• Deputy Director: Alan Stearns
  

Purpose

The Bureau of Parks and Lands manages and administers programs on 482,000 acres of Public Reserved Lands, 34 staffed state parks, 22 state historic sites, two million acres of submerged lands, 1300 coastal islands, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, the Penobscot River Corridor, and other public lands as provided by law. The Bureau also administers special programs related to boat access sites, navigational hazard marking, snowmobile and ATV trails, and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and Recreational Trail Program.

The Bureau acquires land, designs and constructs facilities for public use, distributes information, develops and implements management plans, carries out appropriate land management, administers grants, and coordinates with other state and federal agencies that have related programs.

Organization

Five regional offices, two supervising the state park system and three supervising the Public Reserved Lands system, oversee operations and management activities. The central office in Augusta includes six Divisions: off-road vehicles, boating facilities, community grants and recreation, planning and acquisition, engineering and realty, and administrative services.

Program

Park System Field Staff provide direct services to park and historic site visitors, maintain and repair facilities, provide information and education programs, and ensure public safety. Public Reserved Lands Field Staff conduct multiple use land management activities including timber harvesting, wildlife habitat protection, and recreation; plan and oversee the construction of roads, trails, and bridges; and maintain campsites and other visitor amenities. Staff manages ecological reserves with the advice of the Natural Areas Division staff in the Bureau of Geology and Natural Areas.

Licenses & Permits

Leases

Sample Publications

• Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council

• Central Office: East Side Campus, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 22 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Staff: (To be assigned)
• (Members listed in Appendix.)
  

In June 2006, Governor John Baldacci established the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Working Group to offer guidance respecting the long-term governance, management, and oversight structure for the Waterway. In January 2007, the AWWW Group presented its final report.; most of the recommendations were included in a bill that the Governor subsequently signed into law. (See Chapter 6 for the list of members.)

This Council would meet at least twice annually and work with the superintendent to develop and manage a strategic plan.

• Forest Legacy Committee

• Central Office: East Side Campus, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 22 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Phone: 207-287-4911
• Fax: 207-287-3823
• Website: www.maine.gov/doc/parks/grants/legacy.html
• Staff (Bureau of Parks and Lands): Alan Stearns
• (Members listed in Appendix.)
  

Purpose

The purpose of the Forest Legacy Program is to identify and protect -- through land acquisition -- environmentally important forest lands that are threatened by present or future conversion to non-forest uses, particularly residential development. The Program originated with the 1990 federal Farm Bill which directed the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Forest Legacy Program, and authorized the Secretary to acquire lands and interests in lands in cooperation with state, regional and other units of government. The state's Forest Legacy Committee was established in 1993 by Maine's State Stewardship Committee to provide input to the Maine Department of Conservation's Bureau of Parks and Lands, the lead agency for Maine's Forest Legacy Program, regarding the management and implementation of the Legacy Program in Maine.

Organization

Committee members are chosen by the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands. Standing Committee members and others may make recommendations to the Bureau Director regarding potential Committee candidates at any time. The Committee consists of twelve members. The committee consists of twelve members. Four positions represent state agencies and are permanent: Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife, Director of Resource Management; Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands, Director of Land Acquisition; Department of Conservation, Maine Forest Service, State Forester Designee; Executive Director of the Land for Maine's Future Program. In addition, the following interests are represented: a Public representative who lives within Maine's Forest Legacy Area; a wood processor; a statewide environmental advocacy organization; a statewide sportsman's organization; two statewide non-profit land conservation partners; two large landowners/land managers. The Committee holds between three and six meetings a year; all meetings are open to the public. Information about meeting schedules and agendas can be obtained by calling or emailing staff listed above at the Department of Conservation.

Program

The Program guides federal dollars to the state for the acquisition of forestland. In Maine, almost 700,000 acres have been acquired through this program. Each year, the Maine Department of Conservation submits a prioritized list of potential Legacy projects to the U.S. Forest Service in hopes of securing funding. This prioritized list is based on a ranking process undertaken by Maine's Forest Legacy Committee. In order to consider the broadest range of potential Legacy projects from throughout Maine's Forest Legacy area, the Committee issues a Request for Proposals once each year. In general, Forest Legacy areas are encouraged to be "working forests"-- where forests are managed for the production of forest products and other traditional forest uses are maintained.

Parcels of land that meet the following minimum required criteria have the best chance of being selected by the Committee for acquisition. Such parcels must do the following:

Other responsibilities of the Committee include the following:

• Submerged Lands Advisory Board

• Central Office: East Side Campus, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 22 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-4919
• Fax: 207-287-3823
• Website: www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/sublands/index.html
• Statutory Reference: 12 MRSA Sec. 1864
• Bureau Staff: Dan Prichard
• Board Chair: Frederick Muehl
• (Members listed in Appendix.)
  

Purpose

The Submerged Lands Advisory Board advises the Bureau of Parks and Land's submerged lands program on its leasing program, shore and harbor management, grants, and related issues.

Organization

The Board consists of eight members; the Bureau Director serves as an ex officio, nonvoting member. The Governor appoints the seven other members. The following interest groups comprise a cross-section of citizens interested in coastal issues and are to have one representative on the Board: lessees or grantees of submerged or inter-tidal land; the general public; anglers, hunters and recreational boaters; municipalities; those with expertise in the subject of public trust as it pertains to the State's submerged and inter-tidal lands; commercial fishing; and marinas. Members of the Board serve for three years and continue serving until a successor is appointed. When a vacancy occurs, it is filled by a member from the same category as the member who vacated the Board; the new member serves on the Board for the remainder of the term. Each year, the Board chooses one of its members to serve as chair for a one-year term. The members typically meet four or five times per year at various locations to fairly distribute the travel times. Bureau staff provides technical and administrative support to the Board.

Program

The Board provides the Bureau Director with advice and information on the management of submerged and inter-tidal lands, including, but not limited to, the fee structure for the leasing of submerged lands that becomes effective when constructive easements expire; the submerged lands lease application process; and the appeals process for the Director's decisions relating to submerged and inter-tidal lands leases and easements.

Bureau of Forestry (Maine Forest Service)

• Central Office: East Side Campus, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 22 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-2791
• Fax: 207-287-8422
• Website: www.maine.gov/doc/mfs
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA, Sec. 8001
• Director and State Forester: Alec Giffen
  

Purpose

The Bureau of Forestry, also known as Maine Forest Service, exists "to ensure for present and future generations of Maine citizens the greatest economic and social benefits from trees and the forest lands of the State." The primary responsibilities of the Bureau are the following:

The Bureau is also charged with such goals as the following: encouraging long-term forest management objectives; protecting the forest resource from fire, insects, diseases and other natural enemies; encouraging and promoting the planting, care and protection of shade trees, shrubs and forest growth by individuals, municipalities and state agencies; and maintaining and improving the scenic beauty, wildlife habitat and recreational values of Maine. The Bureau is directed to develop public awareness and appreciation of forests as Maine's basic economy and renewable resource, of the need to protect the forest resource, and of the economic and social benefits to be derived from multiple use of forest lands.

Organization

The Bureau is divided into three functional divisions: Forest Protection, Forest Policy and Management, and Forest Health and Monitoring. Each division is administered by a chief executive officer in charge of all division activities. Field operations are administered through functional regional supervisors.

Program

The Bureau of Forestry's total program is reflected in the program statements of the various Divisions. The Director's Office manages Maine state forestry-related issues with the US Forest Service including all grants and other forestry related federal agency programs. The Office directs the Maine Forest Service participation in the Northeastern Forest Alliance. It has responsibility for preparation and management of the budget and of legislative proposals. The Office is responsible for overall administration of federally funded forestry programs including landowner assistance, education, cost share and urban forestry grants programs.

Division of Forest Policy and Management

• Central Office: East Side Campus, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 22 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-2791
• Fax: 207-287-8422
• Website: www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/fpmhome.htm
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sec. 5012
• Director: Donald J. Mansius
  

Purpose

The Forest Policy and Management Division promotes informed decisions about Maine's forests by forest landowners, managers, the public, and policy makers. Staff provides technical assistance, information and educational services to the public, forest landowners, forest products processors and marketers, municipalities and other stakeholders. The Division also implements the Forest Practices Act (FPA) and provides outreach and enforcement services. The Division anticipates and responds to forest policy issues and reports to the public on the state of the forest resource. The Division provides technical assistance through educational workshops, field demonstrations, media presentations, and one-on-one contact between field foresters and landowners.

Organization

The Division has three components:

Program

Staff provides technical and educational assistance on forest management and conservation laws to many private, non-industrial forest landowners and to numerous municipalities, civic organizations, resource consultants, educational institutions, state and federal agencies. The Division's administration of the Forest Practices Act focuses on preventing violations from occurring through educational outreach and active field intervention. The staff develops and adopts rules to implement the Act. Staff works on enforcement policy and procedures for the Act and implements customized training for Act rules as needed. Educational programming accomplishments include the following: publishing a guide to the role of forests in municipal planning, outreach on water quality best management practices, and participation in numerous public education workshops and training sessions.

The Division's policy team acquires, analyzes and publishes information about the forest including reports on timber harvest, landowner silvicultural practices, harvest volumes, forest regeneration, wood imports and exports, stumpage and mill-delivered prices, and Tree Growth Tax properties. This Division works with the Division of Forest Health and Monitoring to develop and report the five-year inventory of the forest. The Division, in coordination with other parts of the Department, is working to develop a single, state wide standard for forestry water quality protection. The Division plays a role in the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Plan and focuses activities on reducing forestry impacts to salmon habitat.

Sample Publications

Division of Forest Health and Monitoring

• Central Office: East Side Campus, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 22 State House Station, Augusta ME 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-2791
• Fax: 207-287-8422
• Website: www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/idmhome.htm
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sec 8101
• State Entomologist: David Struble
  

Purpose

The Division of Forest Health and Monitoring within the Bureau of Forestry was originally established in 1921 to protect the forest, shade and ornamental tree resources of the state from significant insect and disease damage, and to provide pest management and damage prevention for homeowners, municipalities, and forest landowners and managers. In the 1990's, its legislatively mandated responsibilities were expanded to incorporate conducting an annualized 5-year cyclical inventory of Maine's forest. Now Division responsibilities include the following:

In addition, the state entomologist is authorized to go onto any lands for the purpose of surveying and inspecting any shade, ornamental, or forest trees whenever he suspects the presence of any dangerous native or exotic insect or disease. If the survey work requires the placing of "trap" material on developed lands in incorporated areas, the state entomologist is required to first notify the landowner of his plans.

Organization

The Division resides within the Bureau of Forestry. The Director of the Bureau of Forestry appoints the State Entomologist who serves as the Director of the Division.

Program

Licenses

Sample Publications

Division of Forest Protection

• Central Office: East Side Campus, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 22 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-4990
• Fax: 207-287-8422
• Website: www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/ffchome.htm
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sec.8901
• State Supervisor: Bill Williams
  

Purpose

The primary objective of the Division of Forest Protection is to provide forest fire and forest resource protection at the least cost with minimum damage to Maine's 17.7 million acres of forest land. This objective is accomplished by doing five major tasks: fire prevention, fire detection, pre-suppression of fire, fire suppression, and law enforcement.

Organization

Originally established in 1947, and having undergone various re-organizations, the Division now resides in the Bureau of Forestry in the Department of Conservation. Division staff operates from the central state office, and three regional offices that are broken down into nine districts. In addition, the Division includes an air operations unit, a radio communications unit, a fire support section, and a training coordinator.

Program

The primary goal of the Division is to keep the annual acreage burned to less than .02% (3,500 acres) of the total acreage of the State and hold annual fire occurrence to 59 fires per million acres protected (1,000 fires). Other program goals include the following:

Licenses & Permits

Publications

Bureau of Geology and Natural Areas

• Central Office: East Side Campus, Williams Pavilion, 1st Floor, Augusta
• Mail Address: 22 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-2801
• Fax: 207-287-2353
• Website: www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/nrimc.htm
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sec.541A
• Director and State Geologist: Robert G. Marvinney

Purpose

The Bureau's mission is to provide the people of Maine with quality information in order to facilitate informed decision-making about natural resource management, economic development, conservation planning, and regulation, and to provide public assistance and promote education. The Bureau is made up of geologists, biologists, ecologists, information specialists, and administrators who gather, analyze, and disseminate unbiased information on the State's natural resources.

Organization

The Bureau of Geology and Natural Areas is the administrative home for the Maine Geological Survey and the Maine Natural Areas Program and has three divisions: Applied Geology, Natural Areas, and Resource Data Services. It also houses the Natural Areas Advisory Board.

Program

The Bureau maps, inventories, assesses, and interprets Maine's geology and the ecology of the State's plants and natural communities. The Bureau uses computerized geographic information systems and databases, and publishes maps and reports. The Bureau web-site provides information on maps, inventories, databases, current programs, publications, and educational resources.

In addition, this Bureau and the Bureau of Parks and Lands have administrative jurisdiction over prospecting and mineral development on those lands owned or held in trust by the State of Maine that are open for mineral exploration. This jurisdiction extends to public lands, the marine littoral bottom to three miles from shore, and all lake bottoms, but not to mineral activities on private or federal lands.

• The Division of Applied Geology is made up of four separate programs. The two mapping programs form the foundation for the evaluation, appraisal and inventory of specific physical resources, mineral occurrences, and geological hazards in the state.

• The Resource Data Services Division prepares and publishes the results of the Bureau's field investigations and research projects. The Division operates a cartographic production facility that includes a geographic information system (GIS), a computer graphics section, a special reproduction center.

• The Natural Areas Program inventories lands that support rare and endangered plants and outstanding examples of natural communities.

Inventories are conducted only with the permission of the landowner. This information is used by a wide audience, including land owners, natural resource managers, and state and federal agencies for such diverse purposes as natural resource planning, exploring economic development opportunities, preparing environmental impact statements, reviewing permit applications, and protecting sensitive natural features. The Natural Areas Program maintains a statewide list of threatened and endangered plants (even though those plants have no legal protection in the state of Maine.) This Program advises the Bureau of Parks and Lands on management of ecological reserves throughout the state. The Program can be reached at: 93 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333; 287-8044/Tel; 287-8040/Fax.

Licenses

For Mineral Activity on State Land:

Sample Publications

The Bureau publishes technical reports concerning surficial, groundwater, bedrock, and marine geology, and natural areas. A full list of publications is available by request and through the bureau's website.

• Natural Areas Advisory Board

The Board has been dormant for the past several years, but there are plans to appoint new members and convene the group by the end of 2007.

The Board advises the Commissioner in administering the functions of the Natural Areas Program. The Board consists of the Commissioner or a designee and 8 additional members who are appointed by the Commissioner. Members include citizens, landowners or land managers who represent such areas of expertise as rare plant or animal biology, ecology or taxonomy, landscape or natural community ecology, conservation biology or natural areas conservation, natural resources policy, earth sciences, or other similar natural or physical sciences. At no time may the Board contain fewer than three members with expertise in rare plant biology or taxonomy or landscape ecology. The Board shall select annually from among its members a chair and a secretary.

The Commissioner serves on the Board for the duration of the Commissioner's term in office. All other members serve for a term of two years.

Department of Environmental Protection

• Central Office: East Side Campus, Ray Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 17 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-2812
• Fax: 207-287-2814
• Website: www.maine.gov/dep/index.shtml
• Statutory Citation: 38 MRSA Sec. 341
• Commissioner: David P. Littell
• Deputy Commissioner: Deborah Garrett
  

Purpose

The Department of Environmental Protection is charged by statute with protecting and improving the quality and resources of our natural resources. The Department, through authority vested in the Commissioner and the Board of Environmental Protection, exercises the police powers of the state to prevent the pollution of the natural environment. It recommends to the Legislature measures for elimination of environmental pollution, grants licenses, and initiates enforcement actions. Its staff negotiates agreements with federal, state and municipal agencies, administers laws relating to the environment, and educates the public and regulated community on environmental issues and obligations.

Organization

The Department is organized by program responsibility. Three Bureaus administer programs and laws according to environmental media: Land and Water, Air, and Remediation and Waste Management. The Office of the Commissioner consists of the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Innovation and Assistance, Office of Management Services, Office of Education and Outreach, and Office of Policy Development and Implementation.

Program

The Office of the Commissioner supports the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner in carrying out their day-to-day responsibilities and is responsible for coordinating inter- and intra-departmental and cross-bureau issues. The Office has four functional units: Education and Outreach, Innovation and Assistance, Management Services, and Policy Development and Implementation.

The Office of Innovation and Assistance focuses on pollution prevention, toxic and hazardous waste reduction and small business technical assistance. The unit advocates for pollution prevention and innovation within department programs and regulations and within private sector and market driven activities. The unit is a liaison with state and regional economic development agencies, private sector organizations, and regional and national pollution prevention and business assistance organizations.

The Policy Development and Implementation Unit is involved in inter-bureau policy analysis, licensing and enforcement tracking, rule drafting and re view, liaison to the Office of Attorney General and general administrative oversight functions. This unit also manages and coordinates the Smart Production and Maine Step-Up initiatives, the Department's strategic plan and Performance Partnership Agreement with US EPA.

Site Map

The Department's core activities, goals, objectives and plans for environmental protection are reflected in the reports of the individual bureaus. An overview of each follows here and in-depth information for all three bureaus is in following sections:

Licenses

See listings under individual Bureaus

Publications

See Department website for many publications and information sheets.

• Pollution Prevention/Compliance Assistance Advisory Committee

• Central Office: East Side Campus, Ray Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 17 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Phone: 207-287-4152
• Fax: 207-287-2814
• Website: www.maine.gov/dep/oia/p2
• Statutory Citation: 38 MRSA. Sec: 343D
• Director: Suzanne Watson
• Manager of Pollution Prevention Program: Peter Cooke / 287-7100
• Chair: Deb Watson
• (Members listed in Appendix.)
  

Purpose

The Pollution Prevention/Compliance Assistance Advisory Committee serves as a review body to assess the progress in the reduction of toxics use, toxics release, and hazardous waste. The Committee also advises the Commissioner on the effectiveness of the Office of Pollution Prevention, the Toxic Use and Hazardous Waste Reduction Program, and the Technical and Environmental Assistance Program.

Organization

The Committee consists of 16 voting members. The Governor appoints two representatives from the business community, two elected or appointed municipal officials, and two representatives of organized labor. The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House each appoint one member from a public health organization, one member from an environmental organization, and one member from a small business. The Senate Minority Leader and House Minority Leader each appoint a member from a small business. The Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee is a voting member. The Director of the Bureau of Air Quality or the Director's designee is a voting member. The Commissioner of Labor, and the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency serve as ex officio members and do not vote on Committee matters.

Program

In 2002, the Committee worked with the Office of Innovation and Assistance in the implementation of the Toxic and Hazardous Waste Reduction Law and Small Business Technical Assistance Program. The Committee also reviewed regulations for consistency with pollution prevention philosophies and provided direction and support to the small business assistance program.

Bureau of Air Quality

• Central Office: East Side Campus, Tyson Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 17 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-2437
• Fax: 207-287-7641
• Website: www.maine.gov/dep/air/ or www.maine.gov/dep/air/ozone (ozone alerts)
• Statutory Citation: 38 MRSA, Sec.581
• Director: James Brooks
• Licensing and Compliance: Bryce J. Sproul
  

Purpose

The Bureau of Air Quality exists to implement state air pollution laws and the federal Clean Air Act and its amendments.

Organization

The Bureau is organized into three Divisions and several Units.

Programs

-- The Licensing Section reviews the results of air quality impact, in addition to other information, to determine whether a proposed source could cause or contribute to violations of air quality laws and regulations. The Air Bureau's licensing program is unlike all other programs in the DEP because it issues licenses that are federally enforceble.

-- The Enforcement Section is responsible for coordinating enforcement activities when there are violations. Violations can range from excess emission of air pollutants to violations of state and/or federal laws.

-- The Meteorology Section evaluates the effect that local and out-of-state sources have on Maine's air quality. It also issues ozone and particulate matter forecasts, provides assistance to the Bureau on regional air quality issues, and other fulfills other duties.

The Division of Program Planning is responsible for regulatory and program development, education and outreach, and maintenance of the Air Bureau's air emission inventory.

-- The Air Toxics and Inventory Section conducts emissions inventories for criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants (air toxics), and specific pollutants such as mercury and dioxin. In addition, this section is responsible for the development of the air toxics program including analysis of health issues and implementation of the MACT program.

-- The Mobile Sources Section oversees the implementation of several mobile source emission reduction programs including the Low-emission Vehicle Program, Inspection and Maintenance Program, Heavy Duty Diesel Testing program, and High Pollution Vehicle Retirement Pilot project. This section is also responsible for issues regarding fuels and transportation planning.

-- The Planning Section is responsible for all rule-making activities. It also deals with global climate change and energy issues as well as public education.

Sample Publications

-- Air Quality Advisory Hotline: 800-223-1196

Bureau of Land and Water Quality

• Office Address: East Side Campus, Ray Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 17 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Phone: 207-287-3901
• Fax: 207-287-7826
• Website: www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/index.htm
• Statutory Citation: 38 MRSA Sec: 1301
• Director: Andrew Fisk
  

Purpose

The Bureau of Land and Water Quality is responsible for administering environmental laws designed to protect and improve the quality of Maine's surface and ground water. It is responsible for reviewing land development projects in order to assess whether they might have an adverse impact on the natural environment and resources of the state. The state laws administered by the Bureau include: Site Location of Development Act, Natural Resources Protection Act, Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act (administered jointly with the Land Use Regulation Commission), Maine Waterway Development and Conservation Act, Sanitary District Enabling Act, Stormwater Management Law, and the Water Quality laws.

Organization

There are five Divisions in this Bureau: Land Resource Regulation, Water Resource Regulation, Environmental Assessment, Watershed Management, and finally, Engineering, Compliance and Technical Assistance.

Program

The Bureau's website has information for citizens on a wide range of issues including the following: monitoring and assessment, permits and standards, waste treatment, watershed planning and management, publications, training opportunities, available grants and fund programs, newsletters, maps, lake database, and guidance on how to report a possible violation.

Licenses

Sample Publications

Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management

• Central Office: East Side Campus, Ray Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 17 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-2651
• FAX: 207-287-7826
• Website: http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/
• Statutory Citation: 38 MRSA, Sec.541
• Director: Mark Hyland
  

Purpose

The Bureau administers Maine's oil, hazardous material and solid waste control programs which include the following:

The Bureau also manages the Maine Coastal and Inland Surface Oil Clean-Up Fund, the Ground Water Oil Clean-Up Fund, the Hazardous Waste Fund, the Uncontrolled Sites Fund, and the Solid Waste Fund, as well as bond accounts for uncontrolled sites and landfill closure and tire stockpile clean-up.

Organization

The Bureau consists of the Divisions of Remediation, Response Services, Technical Services, Oil and Hazardous Waste Facilities Regulation, Solid Waste Management, and Program Services. The Response Services Division has offices in Augusta, Bangor, Portland and Presque Isle. The remainder of the Bureau has primary offices in Augusta with small staffs in the other three offices.

Program

The Bureau's webpage has access to lots of information for home-owners about all manner of hazardous waste and other related topics. It also provides a link to the Waste Management and Recycling Program of the Maine State Planning Office whose mission is to improve recycling and composting performance, and to ensure sufficient, environmentally secure, cost-effective disposal capacity for Maine's municipal solid waste.

Licenses

Sample Publications

Hotlines

• Oil Spill Advisory Committee

• Central Office: East Side Campus, Ray Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 17 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-7752
• Fax: 207-287-2814
• Website: none
• Statutory Citation: Title 38 MRSA, Sec.55-A
• Division of Response Services: Barbara Parker
  

Purpose

The Oil Spill Advisory Committee was established to advise the Department of Environmental Protection in carrying out its responsibilities under Maine's Oil Discharge Prevention and Pollution Control laws.

As of spring 2007, with most members' terms having lapsed, DEP and the Legislature are considering ways to reconstitute the Committee. The information that follows describes the original effort.

Organization

The Committee consists of 14 members appointed for staggered terms of three years including the following members:

Members are limited to two terms. The Department of Environment Protection provides staff support to the Committee.

Program

The Committee is charged with the following responsibilities:

Licenses

None

Sample Publications

Executive Department

Office of the Governor

• Central Office: 2nd floor, State House, Augusta
• Mail Address: 1 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-3531 / TTY: 207-287-6548
• Fax: 207-287-1034
• Email: governor@maine.gov
• Website: www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/index.html
• Statutory Citation: 2 MRSA Sect. 1
• Governor: John Baldacci
• Chief of Staff: Jane Lincoln
• Director, Boards and Commissions: Joe Boucher
  

Purpose

The Governor directs the affairs of the state according to law, including:

Organization

The administrative units of the Governor's Office include the State Planning Office, Land and Water Resources Council, Land for Maine's Future Board, Office of the Public Advocate, Governor's Board on Executive Clemency, Governor's Select Committee on Judicial Appointments, and the Office of Energy Independence.

Program

The Governor's Office serves to accomplish tasks:

The administrative office of the Governor serves to provide staff support to the Governor as he carries out the responsibilities of the Chief Executive of the State of Maine. This support includes such functions as the following: executive appointments, public information, scheduling, press secretary, policy development, legislative relations, correspondence, preparation of reports and addresses, constituent services, managing the operating budget of the Governor, and coverage of national and regional Governors' associations. The Governor's office has a budget and a specified number of employees; the organization of and work assignments to those employees is at the discretion of the Governor. Legislative aides tend to be assigned workloads by topic area -- natural resources, education, economic development, and more.

The Blaine House is the official residence of the Governor and a National Historic Landmark. Blaine House staff provide services for the Governor and his family and guests. They maintain offices there for the Governor, display the mansion during public visiting hours, and assist at official receptions and other gatherings. The Governor is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the building.

• Energy Resources Council

• Central Office: 184 State Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 38 State House Station, Augusta ME 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-3261; 800-662-4545
• Fax: 207-287-6489
• Web Site: http://www.maineenergyinfo.com/resourcescouncil.html
• Statutory Reference: Sec. 1.5 MRSA c.313-A
• State Planning Office Staff: Betsy Elder
  

Purpose

The Energy Resources Council was established by the Maine Legislature in 2002 as a Cabinet-level Council to recommend coordinated state policy regarding major programs or proposals that affect energy use in the state and that involve the activities of more than one state agency.

Organization

Members of the Council include the following: Director of the State Planning Office; Chair of the Public Utilities Commission, the Public Advocate, Director of the Maine State Housing Authority, and the Commissioners of Environmental Protection, Transportation, Administrative and Financial Services, Economic and Community Development. The Director of the State Planning Office is chair of the Council. Monthly meetings are held the first Tuesday each month at the State Planning Office. Meeting agendas and minutes are posted online. The State Planning Office provides staff support.

Program

The Council is charged with the following duties:

The Council is also directed to monitor and evaluate energy use by State Government and in so doing, accomplish the following:

The Council is directed to develop information resources and coordinate the activities of member agencies to help small businesses use energy more efficiently, consume less energy and purchase energy, including electricity, more economically. The Council will form an advisory group of persons with relevant expertise and experience to advise the Council in undertaking its responsibilities under this subsection. In January of each year, the Council is to submit to the Governor and the Legislature's Utilities and Energy Committee an annual report describing the Council's activities during the previous calendar year and an outline of anticipated activities for the current calendar year.

Publications

• Maine Land and Water Resources Council

• Central Office: 184 State Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 38 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-3261
• Fax: 207-287-6489
• Website: http://www.maine.gov/spo/boards/landandwater/index.htm
• Statutory Citation: 5 MRSA Sec. 3331
• Acting Council Chair: Martha Freeman
• Council Coordinator (State Planning Office): Todd Burrowes
  

Purpose

The purpose of the Land and Water Council is to advise the Governor, Legislature, and state agencies on the formulation of policies for management of the state's land and water resources to achieve state environmental, economic, and social goals. The Legislature has given the Council broad authority to consider natural resources issues of statewide significance and to counsel the Governor and Legislature on policy options for managing and protecting these resources. The Council is a forum for discussion and policy direction on natural resources issues that involve multiple agencies. The Council is required to do the following:

Organization

The Council's membership consists of the following: Director of the State Planning Office, the Commissioners of Agriculture, Conservation, Environmental Protection, Human Services, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Marine Resources, and Economic and Community Development. The Governor appoints the Chair and has, in the past, appointed the State Planning Office Director to this role.

At the Council's invitation, the Atlantic Salmon Commission participates in the Council's discussions and decisions on Atlantic salmon-related matters. Staff of the State Planning Office coordinate work of the Council and provide organizational, analytical and technical support. Council projects are implemented generally by staff of its member agencies and those agencies absorb the costs of the work. The Council is required to meet at least quarterly. All meetings are public. Projects of the Council come from the Legislature, Governor's Office and the agencies themselves, usually in the form of requests for recommendations for action on certain issues with substantial public or cross-agency interest and concern.

Program

The Council's primary policy development initiatives have included:

Sample Publications

State Planning Office

• Central Office: 184 State Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 38 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-3261, 800-662-4545
• Fax: 207-284-6489
• Website: www.maine.gov/spo
• Statutory Citation: 5 MRSA Sec. 3303
• Director: Martha Freeman
  

Purpose

The State Planning Office has four core duties assigned to it by statute that include:

The Office's mission is to provide the information, analyses, and guidance decision-makers need to make informed decisions about Maine's economy, resources, and governance. The Office's goal is to be a catalyst for the wise development of the State's economy and the conservation of its natural resources and to improve Mainers' economic well being with no measurable deterioration of the State's healthy natural resources.

Organization

The Office reports to the Governor but is routinely called upon to assist the Legislature, other state agencies, and local and regional governments in a variety of planning and program areas. The State Planning Office is organized into teams, including five policy teams that identify major policy trends and their implications for the state: Community Assistance, Community Service, Economic and Demographic, Eco-Eco, and Land-Use Planning. These teams also administer ongoing technical programs, such as the following:

Program

The Office works on a wide range of natural resource policy issues as is evident from their comprehensive website information. Each policy area has links and multiple publications available online for citizens. The State Planning Office responsibilities (delegated by statute or the Governor) include the following:

-- Additional information available online at: http://www.maine.gov/spo/landuse/htm and www.maine.gov/spo/landuse/htm)

-- Information on recycling programs and many publications can be found online at: www.maine.gov/spo/recycle.

-- Information can be found online at: http://www.maineservicecommission.gov/.

-- Information can be found on line at: http://www.maine.gov/spo/economics.

Sample Publications

For a full list, go to:

http://www.maine.gov/spo/publications/index.htm

• Land for Maine's Future Board

• Central Office: 184 State Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 38 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-1485
• Fax: 207-287-8059
• Website: www.state.me.us/spo/lmf
• Statutory Citation: 5 MRSA, Sec. 6200 et seq.
• Director: Tim Glidden / Tim.Glidden@maine.gov
• Board Chair: George LaPointe
• (Members listed in Appendix.)
  

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Land for Maine's Future Program is to fund the conservation of undeveloped land in its natural state. The Program administers funds to acquire land and interest in land for conservation, water access, outdoor recreation, fish and wildlife habitat protection and farmland preservation. The Program's legislative mandate is the acquisition of lands of state, regional, or local significance that "make a substantial and lasting contribution toward ensuring all of Maine citizens, present and future, the traditional heritage of public access to Maine's land and water resources, and continued quality and availability of natural resources important to the interests and continued heritage of Maine people."

Organization

The Board consists of eleven members, including the Commissioners of the Departments of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources; Conservation; Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and Marine Resources, and the Director of the State Planning Office. The Governor appoints the Board's Chair. The remaining six board members are private citizens appointed by the Governor subject to Senate. These members are appointed to four year terms and can serve two consecutive terms. The program director is a staff member of the State Planning Office. This Office also provides technical staff and clerical support to the program.

The Board provides policy direction, oversees the Fund, and pursues its land conservation strategy under its legislative authority. The Board publishes a 10-day advance notice of a vote to fund the acquisition of property. Notices are placed in a general circulation newspaper and a local newspaper describing the property to be voted on and inviting public comment about the proposed acquisition. All Board meetings are open to the public and include an opportunity for public input.

Program

The Land for Maine's Future Program was originally established in November 1987, when voters overwhelmingly approved a $35 million bond as its initial funding. In 1999 the Program was revitalized when Maine voters approved a $50 million bond for its uses and in 2005, another $12 million. The Public Access to Maine Waters Fund was created by the Legislature and first funded from this 1999 bond. The Program consists of the Land for Maine's Future Board and the Land for Maine Future's Fund.

The basic concept of the Program is that certain lands rise above the rest because of their exceptional natural and recreation values: these lands warrant permanent protection. As Maine grows, the use of land changes and there is a risk that Maine will lose these "special places" forever. The role of the Program is to identify these `special places" and place them into public trusts. To accomplish this, the Board administers an application process that is open to proposals from municipalities, non-profits and state agencies throughout Maine.

The Board uses a scoring system to evaluate proposals based on criteria in keeping with the Legislature's directives. There are three proposal categories: 1) Conservation and Recreation Lands; 2) Farmland; 3) Water Access Lands. All proposals are scored using a system developed with public input and designed to guide the Board in selecting projects which are of state, regional or local significance, capture multiple values, and will benefit a wide spectrum of citizen interests and needs. Since 1987 it has been Board policy to buy from willing sellers only and at fair market value of the property or easement as determined by a qualified independent appraisal.

Program funding facilitates the purchase of lands by the Atlantic Salmon Commission, Departments of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Conservation, and Agriculture, and, since 2000, by land trusts and municipalities throughout the State. Since the creation of the fund in 1987, the program has conserved over 445,000 acres (approximately two-thirds in conservation easement and one-third fee simple); 973 miles of waterfront land; and 158 miles of recreational trails derived from abandoned rail corridors. In addition, the program has expanded five state and regional parks and conserved 18 working farms. A total of 189 projects have been completed in Maine's sixteen counties.

These acquisitions include mountain summits, farmland, river shore, lakes, ponds, coastal islands, pristine beaches, and wetlands. Also included are many irreplaceable natural areas providing permanent protection to eagle nesting sites, spotted turtle habitat, critical spawning habitat for Atlantic and landlocked salmon, rare natural communities, and much more.

In addition, the program works with the Department of Marine Resources to administer the Working Waterfront Access Program, established in 2005.

Submittal process

Anyone may submit a proposal for consideration. All proposals must include a letter from the owner of the land being proposed which indicates full willingness to have his/her land considered by the Board. The Program's Proposal Workbook guides users through the application process; staff and board members are always available to assist in this process. To learn more about submitting proposals for funding by the Board, about stewardship opportunities on land purchased by the Program, or about the Program's public outreach workshops and land protection conferences, see the Program website for dates and information.

Sample Publications

Office of Energy Independence and Security

• Central Office: 242 State Street (Former Motor Vehicle Bldg.), Augusta
• Mail Address: Office of the Governor, 1 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-3292
• Fax: 207-287-1039
• Email: john.kerry@maine.gov
• Web Site: http://www.maineenergyinfo.com/resourcescouncil.html
• Statutory Reference: None
• Director: John Kerry
  

Purpose

The Director of the Office of Energy Independence and Security was established by Governor Baldacci in the spring of 2003. It is a Cabinet-level position created to lead the State's efforts to improve State Government energy efficiency and to increase the use of renewable energy sources. The Office also coordinates state policies and programs which affect energy use in the state and which involve the activities of more than one state agency.

Organization

The Office consists of the Director and two staff members who conduct research and analysis, coordinate the state's hydropower program, and track home heating oil prices. The Office is an arm of the State Planning Office. The Director reports directly to the Governor and is Chair of the Energy Resources Council.

Program

The program areas of this Office currently consist of the following:

Informational websites:

-- www.efficiencymaine.com

-- www.maineenergyinfo.com

Office of Public Advocate

• Central Office: 103 Water Street, 3rd Floor, Hallowell
• Mail Address: 112 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-2445
• Fax: 207-287-4317
• Website: www.maine.gov/meopa/
• Statutory Citation: 35A MRSA Sect.1701
• Public Advocate: Richard Davies
  

Purpose

The fundamental goal of the Public Advocate's Office is to represent the interests of the consuming public in utility-related proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission, state and federal agencies, regional electric transmission authorities, the Legislature, and the relevant courts. The Public Advocate also represents the Governor in negotiations with other states and regional compacts for access to disposal facilities capable of accepting shipments of low-level radioactive waste from generators of this waste in Maine.

Organization

The Public Advocate is an Office of the Executive Department. In addition to the Public Advocate, the Office currently employs three attorneys, one economist, and three support staff. While not strictly specialized, two attorneys focus primarily on the electric industry and two focus primarily on the telecommunications industry. A smaller, but significant, amount of staff time is devoted to gas and water issues.

Although the Public Advocate part of the Executive Department and serves at the pleasure of the Governor, the Public Advocate's statutory role requires him to directly represent Maine's utility customers. Traditionally, Maine's governors have respected this role and have not required the Public Advocate to adopt positions of the Governors' office. To varying degrees, Maine's governors have relied on the Public Advocate as a resource and have included the Public Advocate in cabinet-level meetings. The Public Advocate serves on the Energy Resources Council staffed by the State Planning Office with Governor's cabinet members.

Program

The Office can request the Commission to initiate a proceeding, if necessary, to protect the interests of Maine's consumers. The Office performs this advocacy role in several ways:

The Public Advocate frequently supports policies that promote energy conservation (demand side management), even if those policies do not have the effect of immediately decreasing rates, because of the beneficial economic effects of lower monthly bills for participating customers and the long-term benefits for public health and the environment from decreased air and water pollution. The Public Advocate likewise has been a proponent of expanded reliance on small-scale distributed electric generation, particularly in cases relying on renewable fuels like wind and solar.

The Office helps citizens exercise their rights in dealing with regulated electric, water, gas and telephone companies. The link at www.maine.gov/meopa/consumer/index.html provides in-depth information about how a citizen can file a complaint about a utility, participate in a public hearing, and begin resolving credit troubles. The Public Advocate website also has information on activities of the Office such as the following: conservation, electric, gas, water, and many other links. Two guides for consumers can be found on-line: The Ratewatcher Phone Guide, a free 14-page newsletter that provides a great deal of information about various telecommunications services and their prices, and, Electricity Shopping Guide, a guide for electricity consumers.

Publications

Department of Health and Human Services

• Central Office: 221 State Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 11 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-3707 / TTY: 207-287-4479
• Fax: 207-287-3005
• Website: www.maine.gov/dhhs/
• Statutory Citation: 2 MRSA, Sec.1
• Commissioner: Brenda M. Harvey
  

Purpose

The Department is responsible for protecting and preserving the health and welfare of Maine citizens. It accomplishes this mission through planning, authorization, administration and audit of programs established by law. The Department directs a wide-ranging system of programs in health, social services, family independence, public health and medical services in order to accomplish its mission.

Organization

The bulk of the Department's effort is devoted to constituency services. Three Deputy Commissioners oversee the department's three major arenas: Integrated Services, Financial Management Services, and Operations and Support. The Deputy Commissioner for Integrated Services oversees these offices: Access and Support; Elder Services; Advocacy Services; Substance Abuse Services; Adult Mental Health Services, Integrated Services and Quality Improvement, Adults with Cognitive and Physical Disabilities Services, Multicultural Affairs, and Child and Family Services.

The Department fulfills its public health responsibilities through a separate entity, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The workings of one of the Center's divisions -- the Division of Environmental Health -- may be of particular interest to the conservationist. The Environmental and Occupational Health Program, the Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, and the Drinking Water Program operate within this section.

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention

• Central Office: Key Plaza, 8th Floor, 286 Water Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 11 State House Station, Augusta 04333-0011
• Telephone: 207-287-8016 / TTY: 800-606-0215
• Fax: 207-287-9058
• Website: www.maine.gov/dhs/boh/index.htm
• Statutory Citation: 22 MRSA Sec. 251
• Director: Dr. Dora Anne Mills
  

Purpose

The purpose of this center is to preserve, protect and promote the health of all Maine people. Key strategies include: promoting health through education, motivation, and public policies; conducting disease surveillance and control measures; and diminishing environmental health hazards.

Organization

The Center consists of five divisions: Chronic Disease, Environmental Health, Family Health, Infectious Disease, and Public Health System. Both the Office of Minority Health and the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine (a statewide tobacco prevention and control program) are located within this Center. The Center's director serves as the State Health Officer.

Program

The Center's programs and responsibilities include:

Priority issues for the Bureau include the following:

Sample Publications

Division of Environmental Health

• Central Office: Key Plaza, 286 Water Street, 3rd Floor, Augusta
• Mail Address: 11 State House Station, Augusta 04333-0011
• Telephone: 207-287-5338 / TTY: 800-606-0215
• Fax: 207-287-3165
• Website: www.maine.gov/dhs/eng
• Statutory Citation: 22 MRSA Sec. 2491
• Director: W. Clough Toppan, P.E.
  

Purpose

The purpose of the Division of Environmental Health is to preserve, protect and promote the well-being of the population through organization and delivery of health engineering-related services, such as:

Organization

The Division focuses on public health aspects of exposure to chemicals. The five major programs are Drinking Water, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health Inspection, Wastewater, and Radiation Control.

Program

Licenses (samples)

Environmental and Occupational Health Program

• Central Office: Key Plaza, 286 Water Street, 3rd Floor, Augusta
• Mail Address: 11 State House Station, Augusta 04333-0011
• Telephone: 207-287-5338 / TTY: 800-606-0215 / 866-292-3474 (Toll-free in Maine)
• Fax: 207-287-3165
• Website: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/eohp/ Fish consumption advisories: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/eohp/fish/
• Statutory Citation: 22 MRSA Sec. 1691-1695
• State Toxicologist: Andrew Smith, SM, ScD (207-287-5189)
  

Purpose

The mission of this program is to protect and enhance public health by objective, scientific evaluation of health risks for chemical and radiological exposure. Program staff develop and provide health risk analyses to inform public and regulatory decisions.

Organization

This program is housed within the Division of Environmental health. It includes the Environmental Public Health Tracking program, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Environmental Toxicology Program, and Occupational Disease Reporting System.

Program

The Program focuses on public health aspects of exposure to environmental chemicals. It assesses health threats for persons consuming freshwater and anadromous fish and develops and issues fish consumption advisories to the public. The Program maintains data bases on exposure guidelines for hazardous chemicals in drinking water and air. These guidelines are used to provide reference benchmarks for use by the public and state agencies in evaluating chemical contamination of either drinking water or ambient air.

The Program conducts investigations as necessary to identify health problems related to environmental factors. Specifically this includes identifying potential exposures to chemical contaminants that may pose significant risks to public health and providing information intended to result in actions to reduce exposures. The Program coordinates Maine's development of an environmental public health tracking system. The Program advises and assists state agencies regarding toxicology and risk assessment issues in order that the agencies (as well as boards and the Legislature) can use these assessments in evaluating the health implications of their actions.

This agency has developed several programs that focus on particular aspects of public health:

Publications

This program offers a great deal of information to the public. Some of these resources are available as fact sheets and brochures; all are available through the website. (At the website, click on Well Water Quality for information about wells; Environmental and Occupational Health Program for information about drinking water, fish and game consumption guidelines, air quality, childhood lead, chemicals such as arsenic, MTBE, CCA pressure-treated wood, etc.). Some sample publications include:

• Maine Public Drinking Water Commission

• Central Office: Key Plaza, 286 Water Street, 3rd Floor, Augusta
• Mail Address: 11 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-2070 / 800-606-0215
• Fax: 207-287-4172
• Website: http://www.medwp.com (Link goes to error page)
• Program Manager: Nancy Beardsley (207-287-5674)
• Statutory Citation: 22 MRSA Sec.2660B
• Commission Secretary: Cheryl Pratt (207-287-5694)
• (Members listed in Appendix.)
  

Purpose

The Maine Drinking Water Commission was established to annually develop a fee formula and transfer schedule for each type of public water system in Maine. The annual fee is calculated based on the Commission's review of the Maine Drinking Water Program's existing and projected workloads, existing resources and projected future staffing and resource requirements. The Maine Drinking Water Program received primacy authority from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to administer the federal Safe Drinking Water Act in Maine.

Organization

The Maine Public Drinking Water Commission consists of the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services or Commissioner's designee and eight other members -- three who represent the water purveying community and must be associated with a public water system, two who are users of a non-community water system, and three public members. All members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature to four year terms and must have demonstrated interest, knowledge, experience and expertise regarding public drinking water concerns. The Commission meets bi-monthly.

Program

The Commission is responsible for the following duties:

The Commission must submit an annual report to the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services each year (by August) that includes a performance evaluation of the Drinking Water Program and Commission recommendations including administrative remedies, program operations, funding and staffing requirements, funding formulas and fee collection and transfer schedules.

Drinking Water Program staff administer the Safe Drinking Water Act by carrying out the following work:

Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory

• Central Office: 221 State Street, Augusta 04333
• Mail Address: 12 State House Station, Augusta 04333-0012
• Telephone: 207-287-2727
• Fax: 207-287-6832
• Website: www.state.me.us/dhs/etl/homepage.htm
• Statutory Citation: 22 MRSA Sec.561
• Laboratory Director: John A. Krueger
  

Purpose

The Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory provides comprehensive public health and environmental testing for the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Environmental Protection, as well as to other state agencies and the people of Maine. It is the goal of the Lab to isolate, identify, analyze and monitor any biological, chemical, or radiological hazard which is capable of causing harm. The Lab assists other agencies with the prevention, treatment, and control of such hazards which threaten the community or environment. The Lab provides cost-effective and affordable analytical services to state agencies and to the public. The Lab's primary responsibilities include:

Organization

The Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory is organized in the Clinical Microbiology, Forensic Chemistry/Toxicology, Water Testing, Lead, and Environmental sections.

Licenses & Certificates (samples)

Sample Publications

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

• Central Office: 284 State Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 41 State House Station, Augusta 04333-0041
• Telephone: 207-287-5202
• Fax: 207-287-6395
• Website: www.maine.gov/ifw/
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sec. 7011
• Commissioner: Roland D. Martin
• Deputy Commissioner: Paul Jacques
  

Purpose

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife was established to ensure that all species of wildlife and freshwater aquatic resources in the State of Maine are maintained and perpetuated for their intrinsic and ecological values, for their economic contribution and for their recreational, scientific and educational use by the people of the State.

Organization

The Department is organized into the following entities: Bureau of Administrative Services, Bureau of Resource Management, Bureau of Warden Service, and the Office of the Commissioner which, in turn includes the Division of Public Information and Education and the Division of Program Development and Coordination. The Department also has seven regional offices (see Bureau of Resource Management in following section for more information).

Program

The Department is responsible for the following activities and programs:

The Public Information and Education Division creates and maintains public understanding and support for the objectives and programs of the Department. The Division's major programs are the Information Center, Media Relations, Maine Wildlife Park, and Public Relations. The Information Center houses the Department information call center, distributes quantities of printed material, and maintains the Department's web page. Media Relations provides press releases and houses the photography and video production facility. Maine Wildlife Park offers a variety of wildlife and conservation school programs and tours. Teacher workshops are offered statewide using Project WILD to inform students and teachersabout Maine wildlife and conservation.

Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine focuses primarily on the Department and its projects, programs and personnel and is sent to 12,000 subscribers. The Open Water Fishing Regulations pamphlet and the Ice Fishing Regulations pamphlet are printed and distributed to the public biennially and are the official consolidations of fishing rules and fish consumption advisories. These regulation summaries are printed on a biennial basis. Additional information is available on the web including schedules and links regarding Department rules and laws. In addition, the Department is involved in several different education and training camps: Becoming an Outdoor Woman, Hooked on Fishing, and the Maine Conservation School.

Licenses

Publications

The Department offers many posters, books, and videos through its Online Store. (Go to www.maine.gov/ifw/ and click on "Online Store.") Offerings include:

Books

Magazine

Posters

Videos

• Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council

• Central Office: 284 State Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 41 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-5202
• Fax: 207-287-6395
• Website: www.state.me.us/ifw/aboutus/advisorycouncil/ (Link goes to error page)
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sec.7033A
• Staff Contact: Becky Orff (287-5202)
• (Members listed in Appendix.)
  

Purpose

The Inland Fish and Wildlife Department Advisory Council provides information and advice to the Commissioner regarding the administration of the Department. The Council reviews and votes to approve or defeat all Department rules prior to their adoption by the Commissioner.

Organization

The Council consists of ten members representing the sixteen counties of the state. One member each represents the counties of Aroostook, Cumberland, Han-cock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Washington and York. The remaining counties are grouped into regions, each having one representative: Kennebec and Sagadahoc; Franklin and Oxford; Knox, Lincoln and Waldo. Members must live in the county or region they represent and represent the fish and wildlife issues of that area. The Council is appointed by the Governor, subject to review by the Legislature's Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee and to confirmation by the state Senate. Current legislators, those who served in the Legislature in the last year, and those who were employed by the Department in the last year cannot be members of the Council. The Commissioner is an ex officio non-voting member of the Council but may vote to break a tie. Appointments are for three years or until successors are appointed and qualified. No member serves more than two consecutive three-year terms. The Council holds regular meetings with the Commissioner or his deputy in December and May of each year, and special meetings at such other times and places within the state. Council meeting agendas and minutes are posted on the Department web page (www.maine.gov/ifw/advisory council/advisorycouncil/minutes.htm).

Program

The Council reviews and votes on regulation changes, proposals for acquisition of major land parcels, all rules regarding changes in hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations, and any non-game issues. Department staff drafts proposed rules and holds the required public comment period before the Council reviews the rule. Recent topics of Department rulemaking include deer regulations, deer permits, expanded archery, bonus deer permit, youth deer day. The Council is involved in the Department's planning process and helps set management and budget priorities. Council members establish relationships with outside groups that are involved in fish and wildlife issues and act as liaisons for the Department at the Legislature.

• Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Waterfowl Advisory Council

The Maine Waterfowl Council acts as a liaison between the Commissioner and the game bird hunters of the State on such issues as population levels and hunting regulations. The Waterfowl Council is appointed by the Commissioner and is composed of ten members representing the ten districts of the state developed and used for the Inland Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council. [Members are listed in the Appendix.] Each District Representative must reside in the district which he or she represents. An eleventh member-at-large is the current State Chairman of Maine Ducks Unlimited. The Waterfowl Council meets at least twice a year, in the late summer and again in the spring.

The Waterfowl Council obtains the opinions and recommendations of these hunters about migratory game birds, and transmits them, with appropriate comments, to the Commissioner. The Waterfowl Council keeps these hunters advised of major developments affecting migratory game birds that may come to the attention of the Council or the Commissioner. The Council acts as a sounding board for migratory game bird management initiatives of the Department, such as waterfowl zoning requests, early Canada goose hunting seasons, harvest surveys, and migratory bird hunting permits. Finally, the Council may provide waterfowlers' input and suggestions on the State's waterfowl management and wetland acquisition initiatives. The Council's recommendations are not binding upon the Commissioner or the Commissioner's Advisory Council.

• Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund Board

• Mail Address: 37 Wiscasset Rd., Pittston 04345
• Telephone: 207-458-8421
• Website: www.maine.gov/ifw/outdoorheritage/homepage.htm
• Email: mohf@gwi.net
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sec. 7788
• Project Manager: Carol Gay
• (Members listed in Appendix.)
  

Purpose

The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund Program was established by the Legislature to fund state programs that would perpetuate Maine's outdoor heritage -- the state's endangered species, wildlife habitat and pristine lands for outdoor recreation. The Program is solely funded with revenue from the sale of special Outdoor Heritage lottery tickets.

Organization

The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund is governed by a board of seven members. The Commissioners of the Departments of Conservation and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Coordinator of the Natural Areas Program (from the Department of Conservation) are permanent members. With approval from the Legislature, the Governor appoints four citizen members to staggered four-year terms. One citizen member must represent a state sportsmen's organization, one a state wildlife conservation organization, and one must work in a field related to natural resources. The Board has hired an Executive Director on a contractual basis to perform the duties of administering the grants once they are awarded, organizing the application process for grants, and coordinating with the Lottery Commission and other state and private organizations.

Program

Since tickets first went on sale in January 1996, more than 10.5 million have been sold, funding more than $10 million in grants to 385 projects. Tickets are available at most convenience stores, gas stations and other outlets where Maine State Lottery tickets are sold. The Outdoor Heritage ticket design changes every three to four months. The Board awards grants semi-annually to natural resource agencies and organizations for conservation and recreation projects. The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund Board is guided by the following principles as it considers grant requests. The Board gives priority to projects that most substantially accomplish one or more of these objectives:

The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund supports a broad range of conservation initiatives. Applications can be submitted in one of four different funding categories, with funds expended according to the designated percentages as required by the Heritage Fund law:

The webpage has all application materials and forms which can be downloaded, printed or completed online.

Any entity interested in obtaining funding for a conservation or recreation project from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund must apply through one of 16 designated state Natural Resource Agencies (see www.maine.gov/ifw/outdoorheritage/agencylist.htm). Deadlines for agencies to submit proposals are March 1 and September 1 of each year. Proposals must meet the funding guidelines for that particular agency as well as the Guiding Principles for the Outdoor Heritage Fund. Grants are awarded within three months of the application deadline.

Bureau of Resource Management

• Central Office: 284 State Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 41 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-5252
• FAX: 207-287-6395
• Website: www.maine.gov/ifw/aboutus/resourcemanagement.htm (Bad link)
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sec.7013
• Director: Kenneth D. Elowe
  

Purpose

The Bureau of Resource Management is responsible for the management of the State's inland fisheries and wildlife resources and the development of rules governing the effective management of these resources.

Organization

The Bureau currently consists of the following five sections: Division of Wildlife Management, Division of Fisheries and Hatcheries, Computer Services Section, Environmental Coordination Section, and Animal Damage Control. Administration and policy work is done from the Augusta office; resource assessment and research in the Bangor office. Fish and wildlife management is carried out by seven regional offices each with several wildlife biologists and several fisheries biologists, often with additional support staff. The Bureau also includes planners assigned to the Division of Wildlife and the Division of Fisheries who are responsible for development, coordination, maintenance and evaluation of the Department's comprehensive fish and wildlife program. Bureau planners are involved in planning, coordination, and technical assistance on the projects of each of these Divisions. Such projects include new management goals and objectives for deer and moose, streamlining hunting and fishing rules, and reviewing town comprehensive plans. The Bureau's Environmental Coordinator acts as a liaison between the Department and the regulatory agencies and reviews Department comments on all permit applications for consistency with Department policy.

Program

Division of Wildlife Management: Division staff monitors the numbers and use (hunting, trapping, etc.) of major wildlife ("game") species. Staff also monitors and assesses species and habitat of the state's migratory songbirds, seabirds, amphibians, invertebrates, aquatic biodiversity, and several threatened and endangered species. Department's Wildlife Management Areas include approximately 100,000 acres of upland and wetland habitat located throughout the State, as well as nearly 300 coastal seabird nesting islands. Staff improves habitat in these Management Areas as needed. Division staff review permit applications made to the Department and other state agencies in order to assess environmental impacts and make recommendations regarding potential impact on wildlife. The status and occurrences of all Maine's rare and endangered wildlife species is maintained in a nationally standardized, comprehensive information system, Biological and Conservation Data System. Current non-game projects include the following:

Division of Fisheries and Hatcheries design and implement field studies like habitat and fisheries inventories of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams in order to obtain information regarding the abundance and condition of fish populations in specific waters. Creel surveys and aerial angler counts provide important information on amount, demand and quality of fishing. Comprehensive species management plans are formulated every five years and guide the overall statewide fisheries management programs. The Department's fish hatcheries and rearing stations propagate the fish to support statewide fisheries management programs -- approximately one and one half million fish stocked annually. Division biologists assess environmental impacts and make recommendations regarding potential impact on fisheries for project applications submitted to state agencies and the Department. Research work includes the development of biological principles and management techniques needed to support fisheries management programs. Recent focus has been on statewide trawling, habitat evaluation procedures, in-stream flow methodology studies associated with hydroelectric projects, baitfish surveys, an anadromous alewife impact study, a study of wild brook trout streams, and eel management.

Both the Wildlife and the Fisheries Divisions establish temporary public working groups in order to provide opportunity for public input into the setting of management goals and objectives for all species that are hunted, trapped, threatened or endangered, or of special concern. Citizens are invited to sit on these groups based on their expertise with the particular species or group of species being discussed (e.g. the primary researcher on black terns helping with goal-setting for that species) and/or on their interest and connection with management of the species (e.g. tourism officials interested in promoting moose-watching). Their recommendations are incorporated into the management plans.

Licenses

None (all done by Licensing & Registration in the Bureau of Administrative Services)

• Maine Endangered and Non-Game Wildlife Fund

The Maine Endangered and Non-game Wildlife Fund is a primary source of financial support for endangered species conservation and other non-game wildlife management program. The money in the Fund comes from a voluntary "chickadee check-off" option to the state income tax form and the registration fees of special "loon" license plates. Residents pay a $15 annual renewal for this conservation license plate and the money is divided between the Departments of Conservation and of Inland Fish and Wildlife. The Inland Fish and Wildlife Department portion is used to cover costs of non-game and threatened and endangered species programs. Most of the Department's funding otherwise comes from sportsmen's fees. Income from the chickadee check-off dropped dramatically (nearly 50 percent) in 1998, when the check-off was unexpectedly moved from the primary tax form to a supplemental form. Competition with the new general issue chickadee license plate introduced in July 1999, (and many other special license plates since), has reduced the funding from the special conservation loon plate by about 20 percent.

Department of Labor

Maine Conservation Corps

• Mail Address: 124 State House Station, Augusta 04333-0124
• Telephone: 207-287-4931; 800-245-5627 / TTY: 800-794-1110
• Fax: 207-287-3342
• Website: http://www.mainecareercenter.com/mmc (bad link)
• Email: corps.conservation@maine.gov
• Acting Director: Linda Shapleigh
  

Purpose

The Maine Conservation Corps, established by the State of Maine in 1983, is built in the tradition of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s and Youth Conservation Corps of the 1970s. The mission of the Maine Conservation Corps (MCC) is to:

Organization

The MCC is housed in the Bureau of Employment Services in the Department of Labor. Its programs focus on conservation, environmental education, and meaningful opportunities for members to learn new skills and gain experience in environmental careers. During their terms of service, members receive weekly stipends and health insurance; they are able to earn AmeriCorps Education Awards to pay for college or student loans.

Program

MCC offers three programs:

-- Reconstructing the Appalachian Trail on White Cap Mountain

-- Rebuilding hiking trails in Camden Hills State Park

-- Constructing rock staircases on Table Rock Trail in Grafton Notch State Park

-- Improving mountain bike trails at Bradbury Mountain State Park

-- Building new trail systems for Harpswell Heritage Land Trust and the Town of Windham

-- Maine Coastal Program at the State Planning Office

-- Mount Desert Island Water Quality Coalition

-- Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association

-- Stream Teams at the Bureau of Land and Water Quality, Department of Environmental Protection

-- Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District

Wildfire Safety. These members work with the Maine Forest Service on wildland firefighting and community education projects designed to minimize wildfire risk to Maine communities. Members assist Forest Rangers with community outreach, education, recruiting and training volunteers, and identifying and mapping areas of wildfire risk.

Department of Marine Resources

• Central Office: 2 Beach Street, Hallowell
• Mail Address: 21 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-624-6550 / TTY: 267-287-4474
• Fax: 207-624-6024
• Website: http://www.maine.gov/dmr/index.htm
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sec. 6021
• Commissioner: George D. Lapointe
• Deputy Commissioner: David Etnier
• Director of External Affairs: Terry Stockwell
  

Purpose

The Department of Marine Resources was established to conserve and develop marine and estuarine resources of the State of Maine by carrying out the following efforts: conducting and sponsoring scientific research; promoting and developing the Maine commercial fishing industry; and, by advising agencies of government concerned with development or activity in coastal waters. The Department works on management programs to ensure sustainable fisheries and to address expansion of emerging fisheries, which currently include sea urchins, whelks, and eels. The Department enforces the laws relating to marine resources and has the authority to do the following:

Enter into reciprocal enforcement agreements with other states, interstate regional authorities and the Federal Government;

Cooperate, consult and advise with other appropriate state agencies on all interrelated matters involving the coast and its marine resources;

Assist the industry in the promotion and marketing of its products;

Close contaminated shores, waters and flats;

Make regulations to assure the conservation of renewable marine resources in any coastal waters or flats of the State; and

Hold hearings and to publish notices as may be required by law.

The Commissioner of Marine Resources serves as a member of the Atlantic Salmon Commission.

Organization

The Department consists of the Bureaus of Resource Management and Marine Patrol, and Divisions of Community Resource Development and Administrative Services. The Commissioner is the head of the Department and most administrative units; the Deputy Commissioner is the director of the Division of Community Resource Development. The Deputy Director for External Affairs is in charge of staffing and representing Maine in the federal and interstate fisheries arena. Most of the Department is located at the Hallowell headquarters; the Bureau of Resource Management is housed at the Boothbay site.

The Marine Resources Advisory Council is a regulatory entity which reviews and votes on Department rules. Several other truly advisory councils exist within the Department to advise on the lobster, sea urchin, and recreational fisheries issues and the Salmon Aquaculture Fund.

The Department works in a co-management arrangement with seven Lobster Policy Management Councils which have been established with authority to hold their own referenda within the industry regarding lobster-fishing regulations. Further information about the Bureau of Resource Management, Division of Community Resource Development, and the advisory councils can be found in the following sections.

Program

The Department focuses on conservation and management of marine resources, on seafood safety, boating safety, marine education and market development. The Department works on management programs to ensure sustainable fisheries and to address expansion in three fisheries: sea urchins, whelks, and eels. In coordination with both the New England Fisheries Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Department staff works on management issues in fisheries such as lobster, herring, groundfish, shrimp, striped bass, menhaden, herring, scallops, mahogany quahogs, and others. Staff is involved in the process of developing the New England Fisheries Management Council plans for scallop and groundfish in order to attain fisheries management and fleet maintenance objectives. The Department has specific regulatory authority to place immediate restrictions on emerging new fisheries. Aquaculture is now a significant component of the state fishery; further information follows in the section on Division of Community Resource Development.

The Department works with a variety of advisory councils; those appointed directly by the Commissioner are listed below. The Marine Resources Advisory Council, appointed by the Governor, is described in the next section.

The Department, working with the Land for Maine's Future Program, administers the Maine Working Waterfront Program. This program was created to protect strategically significant waterfront properties whose continued availability to commercial fisheries is essential to the long-term future of this economic sector.

Lists of current members of advisory councils can be found in Appendix A.

• Aquaculture Advisory Council

• Staff Contact: Samantha Horn-Olsen

The Council is advisory only and does not set policy. The five-person council consists of the nonvoting Commissioner or Commissioner's designee, (currently the Aquaculture Coordinator), and four representatives of the aquaculture industry, no more than two of which may represent similar segments of the State's aquaculture industry. Members are appointed by the Commissioner to three-year terms and meet at least once a year.

The council makes recommendations to the Commissioner on matters of interest to the Aquaculture industry, including expenditures of funds in the Aquaculture Monitoring, Research, and Development Fund, as well as research, policy and regulatory matters.

• Lobster Advisory Council

• Staff contact: Sarah Cotnoir

The Lobster Advisory Council advises the Commissioner on activities that relate to the lobster industry. The Council makes recommendations on proposed rulemaking concerning lobster fishing practices, e.g. double tagging programs, changes to the apprenticeship program. The Council helps formulate, provides input and public testimony on lobster-related issues at the Legislature. When Lobster Zone Management Councils bring issues to the Council, it assists with dispute resolution on such topics as boundaries, trap limits, and more. The Seed Lobster Fund subcommittee meets annually to make research recommendations to the Council, which then makes the final recommendation to the Commissioner. Each year, the Council recommends to the Commissioner individuals for the Maine Lobster Promotion Council Board.

The thirteen members of the Lobster Advisory Council are either approved or appointed by the Commissioner. The Commissioner directly appoints the following members: two people who hold wholesale seafood licenses and are primarily dealers in lobsters; one person who is a member of the general public and does not hold a lobster license; and, three people who hold lobster and crab licenses and are not members of any Lobster Policy Management Council (each of whom must be from a different county). In addition, each of the seven Lobster Policy Management Councils chooses by majority vote one person for the Council and the Commissioner approves the choice. The terms on the Council of the representatives from the Lobster Policy Management Councils are co-terminous with terms on the Management Councils. Terms of other representatives are three years. The Chair of the Lobster Advisory Council is ex officio to the Department of Marine Resources Marine Advisory Council. The Council meets approximately every six weeks from September to May each year. More information can be found online at http://www.maine.gov/dmr/council/Lobster%20Advisory %20Council/index.htm

• Maine Sea Urchin Zone Council

• Staff contact: Margaret Hunter

This Council makes recommendations to the Commissioner concerning sea urchin fishery management and research issues such as the designation of open days for the harvesting of sea urchins by hand-fishing, dragging, hand-raking and trapping; research projects and grants funded by the Sea Urchin Research Fund; and, sea urchin fishing licenses. The Commissioner appoints the following 19 members of the Council for two-year terms: two scientists with expertise in marine resources management; one sea urchin harvester holding a current boat tender's license; and, from both Zones 1 and 2 in the sea urchin fishery: three harvesters holding a current hand-fishing license, three harvesters who hold a current draggers license, and two individuals who hold either a current sea urchin processor's or buyer's permit. The Commissioner selects members to ensure a geographic distribution of representation from each zone.

Members continue serving on the Council until a successor is appointed and qualified. When a vacancy occurs, the Commissioner fills the vacancy by appointing a member from the same category of members as the member who vacated the position. The Council annually chooses one of its members to serve as chair for a one-year term. The Council meets at least once each year, usually once a month. Minutes of the meetings are posted online at www.maine.gov/dmr/council/sea_urchin/index.htm

• Marine Recreational Fishing Advisory Council

• Staff Contact: Bruce Joule

The purpose of this Council is to advise the Commissioner on recreational marine fisheries issues, the needs and priorities of the recreational sector, conservation measures, improvement of communications between recreational and commercial fisheries interests and programs to enhance the status of marine recreational species. The Council is comprised of nine members: four representing recreational marine fisheries and reflecting geographic distribution along the coast; three members representing the party/charter industry; one representing tackle shop owners; and, one representing commercial fishing industry. The chair of this Council serves as an ex officio member of the Marine Resources Advisory Council. Council members serve three-year terms and usually meet four times a year, twice in the fall and twice during the winter and spring.

• Marine Resources Advisory Council

• Central Office: 2 Beach Street, Hallowell
• Mail Address: 21 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-624-6550
• Fax: 207-624-6024
• Website: www.maine.gov/dmr/council/dmradvisory/index.htm
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA Sec.6024
• Staff: Laurice Churchill
• Council Chair: Blair Pyne
• (Members listed in Appendix.)
  

Purpose

The Marine Resources Advisory Council provides advice to the Commissioner on policy matters affecting the fishing industry and on problems and needs of the segments of the industry they represent. The Council is a regulatory body with the authority to approve or defeat rules promulgated by the Department on marine fisheries issues.

Organization

The Council is appointed by the Governor, reviewed by the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources, and confirmed by the state Senate. The fifteen members of the Council consist of seven individuals from commercial harvesting sector, four individuals from non-harvesting (dealers or processors) sectors, one representative of recreational fishing, one representative from the Lobster Advisory Council, one representative of the aquaculture industry, and one public member. Council members serve three-year terms and are limited to two terms. The Council meets regularly on the third Wednesday of each month. Meetings are cancelled and rescheduled as is needed to maintain a quorum; all meetings are public. Meeting agendas and minutes are online; information about meeting schedules can be obtained from the Commissioner's office.

Program

The Council reviews and votes to approve or defeat proposed rules promulgated by the Department. Department staff drafts the rules and holds the public comment process required by the Maine Administrative Procedures Act. The Council reviews summary information and staff recommendations before voting on each rule. Current topics of rulemaking cover a wide range of issues and include such topics as lobster season starting dates for draggers versus divers, boundary disputes between certain lobster management zones, finfish buffer zones, special licenses, and, shellfish health and handling of shellfish products.

The Council reviews a variety of reports of various research programs and reports regarding trends in commercial fishing. It receives updates of the programs and efforts of the Department and the inter-state groups of which the Department is a part (e.g. New England Fisheries Management Council, and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). The Council reviews information about legislative proposals and actions on marine

fisheries issues and Department budget concerns.

Division of Community Resource Development

• Central Office: 2 Beach Street, Hallowell
• Mail Address: 21 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-624-6550
• Fax: 207-624-6024
• Website: www.maine.gov/dmr/
• Statutory Citation: 12 MSRA Sec. 6051
• Director and Deputy Commissioner: David Etnier
• Aquaculture Policy Coordinator: Samantha Horn-Olsen
  

Purpose

The Division of Community Resource Development is to establish and maintain communication with constituent communities including harvesters, processors and municipalities. Two field staff work directly with fisheries organizations and individuals in order to deal with issues regarding laws or regulations. The marketing program is responsible for analysis of economic and market issues that affect the fishing and aquaculture industries. The Division is also responsible for providing development assistance to those industries. The watershed program is concerned primarily with municipal shellfish management programs and with issues that effect ecological integrity in coastal regions with a focus on watersheds. The Division is responsible for permitting and providing environmental impact assessments of wetlands, dredging, waste discharge projects to state and federal agencies.

Organization

This Division includes the following staff and programs: an Area Manager who works with the fishing industry, the Watershed Management Group which works with shellfish management and permit reviews, the Marketing Program, and the Aquaculture Coordinator.

Program

Division of Shellfish Management and Coastal Permit Review administers the Municipal Shellfish Management Program. As more shellfish harvesting areas become available due to improvements in water quality, municipalities and harvesters are regaining an interest in managing their shellfish resources. There are currently sixty-four towns with shellfish management programs. The Division supports three regional field offices with a marine biologist assigned to each. The Program is also responsible for environmental impact reviews on projects seeking leases on publicly owned submerged and/or inter-tidal lands which could have an effect on Maine's fisheries infrastructure. This group also assesses the impact of construction and dredging projects proposed by individuals, municipal and federal governments. The Division reviews wetland alteration plans and town comprehensive plans which may affect marine, estuarine and riverine resources.

The Aquaculture Leases and Licenses Program: Working with the Ecology Division, the Aquaculture Coordinator administers this Program which includes the issuance and renewals of permits and implementing of the public hearing process. The Department grants several different types of aquaculture leases and one type of license. For more information, go to the Department website.

Public concerns about aquaculture include escapement of farmed fish, use of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, feces from shellfish farms, nutrient enrichment of nearby shore areas, disease transmission, and riparian landowner issues. To address these concerns, the Department is involved in the following efforts: the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Plan; agreements to develop and implement marking procedures and containment protocols for farmed Atlantic Salmon; monitoring for toxic contaminants and drugs in the vicinity of net pens; video surveys under shellfish rafts; development of bay-wide seasonal mass balance estimates of nutrients; and regulation of farmed fish movement from one area of the coast to another.

Citizens can participate in the Department's aquaculture lease application process by attending public meetings, submitting written comments, and attending public hearings. A citizen who will be substantially and directly affected by a proposed aquaculture farm can request intervenor status. For more information on the aquaculture lease application process and on public participation opportunities, see the Department website.

The Development and Marketing Program: This Program supports Maine's marine-based industries through direct assistance, infrastructure development, research and advocacy. Projects of the Program include the Maine Seafood Industry website, and information about economic impacts, market trends, industry structure and financial needs of the seafood industry.

The Area Manager works with the fishing organizations, companies and individuals to deal with issues that arise in order to prevent conflict and to respond to opportunities as needed.

Publications

The Marketing Memo is a semi-monthly newsletter that contains resource information of interest to the seafood industry. Other publications can be at www.maineseafood.org, which is maintained by the Department and the Maine Fisherman's Forum.

Bureau of Resource Management

• Central Office: 194 McKown Point, West Boothbay
• Mail Address: 194 McKown Point, West Boothbay 04575
• Telephone: 207-633-9500 / TTY: 207-633-9500
• Fax: 207-633-9579
• Website: www.state.me.us/dmr/rm
• Statutory Citation: 12 MRSA, Sec. 6021
• Director: Linda Mercer
  

Purpose

The Bureau of Resource Management is charged with overseeing the marine resources of Maine through shellfish sanitation and public health, scientific research and monitoring to conserve, restore, and manage Maine's marine and estuarine resources, and marine education. Primary responsibilities of the Bureau are the following:

to conduct and sponsor scientific research which may include biological, chemical, hydrological, and technological research and monitoring;

to provide information on stock levels and environments of commercially valuable marine organisms; and,

to provide technical and scientific information, services and assistance to the public, industry and governments.

The Department is a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Bureau staff works on interstate management of commercially and recreationally important species including American lobster, northern shrimp, Atlantic herring, striped bass, Atlantic menhaden, bluefish, shad and river herring, and winter flounder. Bureau staff is involved in the development of an Atlantic coast cooperative statistics program for commercial and recreational statistics.

Organization

The Bureau consists of six divisions: Assessment and Statistics, Biological Monitoring, Ecology, Marine Education, Public Health, and Stock Enhancement. The central office is located at McKown Point, a peninsula in Boothbay. The fishery research laboratory consists of a marine aquarium, microbiological and biotoxin laboratories, geological information system (GIS) mapping facilities, wet lab, and a scientific and fishermen's library. The Stock Enhancement Division, which is responsible for anadromous fish activities, is located in Hallowell, and a second microbiological/biotoxin laboratory is located in Lamoine.

Program

Biological Monitoring and Assessment Division. Activities include analysis of fisheries stock assessment data on herring, American lobster, and northern shrimp; use of acoustic survey methodology for herring resource assessment; collection of commercial and recreational fisheries statistics; and gear selectivity research on the northern shrimp and silver hake fisheries. The environmental monitoring project records atmospheric and oceanographic conditions in Boothbay Harbor. Staff is using GIS mapping for eelgrass beds along the coast as part of a program to document marine resources that would be endangered by spills of hazardous materials in the marine environment. Staff collects resource information for assessment and management of the American lobster, northern shrimp, green sea urchin, and Atlantic herring. They collect detailed catch, effort, and biological data from fishermen along the entire coast of Maine.

Ecology Division. A groundfish enhancement project is focused on rearing techniques for cod and winter flounder larvae. Staff have begun a pilot study to characterize subtidal habitats of marine species in the lower Sheepscot River. The Division conducts aquaculture permit site reviews in coordination with the Aquaculture Coordinator in the Division of Community Resource Development. The Division also participates in the coordinated multi-agency Finfish Aquaculture Monitoring Program.

Stock Enhancement Activities of the Division include the following efforts: surveys to evaluate spawning success of American shad, alewife, and striped bass; fishway operation and maintenance; fish stocking; review of hydropower projects and activities that could impact anadromous fish resources; technical assistance to municipalities with alewife fisheries; participation on the Salmon Task Force; development of regulations and monitoring for the elver fishery.

Public Health. This Division oversees the application of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program within the State of Maine. This Program is employed internationally by the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference in order to keep molluscan shellfish safe for human consumption. This Division has three parts:

The Shellfish Growing Area Classification Program judges the cleanliness of all the marine waters of the state by monitoring the water quality along the shores and by conducting shoreline surveys.

The Shellfish Dealer Certification and Inspection Program evaluates and certifies all wholesale shellfish dealers in Maine.

The Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program monitors levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP), commonly known as "Red Tide," and other marine biotoxins in the waters and shellfish of the state. When the toxin is found at levels near or above which human illness may occur, shellfish harvesting areas are closed. Maine has historically had high levels of "Red Tide" during the warmer periods of the year.

-- RED TIDE HOTLINE: 1-800-232-4733

Public Utilities Commission

• Central Office: 242 State Street (Former Motor Vehicle Bldg.), Augusta
• Mail Address: 18 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-287-3831 / TTY: 800-437-1220
• Consumer Hotline: 800-452-4699
• Fax: 207-0287-1039
• Website: www.state.me.us/mpuc
• Email: maine.puc@maine.gov
• Statutory Citation: 35A MRSA, Sec.103
• Administrative Director: Karen Geraghty
  

Purpose

The Maine Public Utilities Commission is an independent agency consisting of three commissioners and a staff of 63, created by the Maine Legislature "to assure safe, reasonable and adequate service at rates which are just and reasonable to customers and public utilities." The Commission is a quasi-judicial body that decides cases involving rates, service, financing, and other activities of the utilities it regulates. The Commission also has investigatory and rulemaking authority. The Commission has jurisdiction over water utilities, electric utilities, water carriers, gas utilities, telephone utilities, and resellers of telephone services.

Organization

The Public Utilities Commission consists of three members appointed by the Governor subject to review by the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy and to confirmation by the Senate. The three Commissioners are appointed for six-year staggered terms. The Governor designates one member Chair. All Commission orders, rules and docket information can be found on the Commission's website. Established by referendum in 1914 and organized in that same year, Commission staff is now divided into five operating divisions: Consumer Assistance, Legal, Finance, Administration and Technical Analysis.

Program

The Commission regulates the State's electric transmission and distribution companies, telephone, gas and water utilities as well as water carriers. The purpose of this regulatory system is to assure safe, reasonable and adequate service at rates that are just and reasonable to customers and public utilities. Cellular telephone providers are exempted from regulation as public utilities, as long as one provider does not "exclusively control" the assigned service area and unless the Commission determines that the cellular provider is engaged in providing basic exchange telephone service.

The Commission has jurisdiction over a variety of regulations and programs that affect and implement environmental policy in Maine. In 1997, Maine passed legislation restructuring the electric utility industry. The law took effect in March 2000. The law provided for the deregulation of generation services, mandated that Maine's utilities divest their generation assets, and guaranteed electricity consumers the right to purchase generation services directly from competitive electricity providers. The Commission administers the bid process to select the standard offer providers for the State. One Maine competitive electricity provider offers a 100% renewable power product generated from Maine's small hydro and biomass power producers.

The Commission currently retains jurisdiction over the transmission and distribution functions of electric utilities. This includes jurisdiction over the need for siting new transmission lines. The Commission reviews the request for a new line and considers it against other alternatives such as the use of more aggressive energy efficiency, the possibility of increased generation (additional power plants in the area) and other options.

As of 2002, the Commission also has new responsibilities for designing and implementing energy efficiency programs in Maine. The Commission has launched "Efficiency Maine" -- a new program focused on electric energy conservation. The Commission has approved twelve interim electric conservation programs such as the following: low-income refrigerator replacement; building operator certification program; state building program; residential lighting incentive program; low-income no-charge lighting program, to mention a few.

The Commission's various Divisions have powers and duties such as the following:

The Consumer Assistance Division (CAD) is charged with ensuring that consumers and utilities receive fair and equitable service through Commission education and consumer complaint resolution programs. CAD is responsible for responding to information requests, resolving consumer complaints, assessing utility compliance with consumer-related statutes and Commission rules, and screening requests from utilities seeking to disconnect gas or electric service in the winter. CAD also provides a number of services to assist utilities in designing and operating effective consumer service programs that are fair to individual consumers, utilities, and the ratepayers in general.

The Legal Division represents the Commission before federal and state appellate and trial courts and agencies. It provides hearings examiners and staff attorneys in cases before the Commission and assists in preparing and presenting Commission views on legislative proposals.

The Finance Division is responsible for conducting financial investigations and analysis of telephone, electric, gas and water utilities, and for conducting other research about Maine utilities. The Division analyzes all applications of utilities to issue stocks, bonds or notes. The Division prepares testimony and other material concerning fuel clauses, cost of capital, rate base, revenues, expenses, depreciation and rate design for rate cases.

Technical Analysis Division provides expert advice to the Commission on questions of engineering, economics, science, mathematics, statistics, and other technical elements of policy analysis.

Public participation

The public has access to the Commission's process through traditional participation requirements. In addition, if ten people who are aggrieved by a utility rate, practice, or service file a written complaint against the utility, the Commission must formally investigate the complaint. The utility has 10 days to respond to the complaint. If the Commission is satisfied that the utility has adequately responded to the complaint, it will be dismissed. If it is not dismissed, the Commission must hold a public hearing or resolve the matter informally. Public hearings are subject to certain provisions provided in statute, including requirements for notice and the right to be heard. The Commission or a public utility may also institute a complaint. Citizens can ask to be put on a list to receive notice of rulemakings and deliberative agendas and certain proceedings (for example, all proceedings regarding a particular topic).

In addition, the Public Advocate -- an office within the Executive Department represents the interests of the public as consumers in proceedings before the Commission. Information about how to participate in a Commission proceeding, the role of the Public Advocate, information about how to file a complaint, and a sample form of the "10-person complaint" can be found online at www.maine.gov/meopa/consumer/file_complaint.html

Information about the Commission's agendas, cases, process and issues can be found on the Commission's website.

Licenses

Order Approving Schedules of Rates, Terms and Conditions.

Electric Utilities -- Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to construct, own, or contract for major transmission facilities.

Providers of Telephone, Electric or Gas Utility Services -- Application for approval to provide telephone, electric or gas service in a municipality.

Carriers of Passengers and Freight by Water in Casco Bay -- Application for Certificate of Convenience and Necessity to provide service.

Department of the Secretary of State

• Central Office: Nash School, 2nd Floor, Corner of Capitol and Sewall Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 148 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-626-8400; 800-452-4664
• Fax: 207-287-8598
• Website: www.maine.gov/sos
• Statutory Citation: 5 MRSA Sec. 81
• Secretary of State: Matthew Dunlap
• Deputy Secretary of State: Julie Flynn
  

Purpose

The purpose of the Office of the Secretary of State is to provide administrative and policy oversight for the Department of the Secretary of State. The Office of the Secretary keeps and preserves the records of the official acts and proceedings of the Governor and the Maine Legislature. It also attends to other duties as required by law including elections and citizen-initiated legislation, boards and commissions, Administrative Procedures Act, notaries, archives, service and trademarks, Uniform Commercial Code filings, corporations, motor vehicles, and more.

Organization

The Secretary of State, as established by the Constitution of the State of Maine in 1820, is elected biennially by joint ballot of both Houses of the Legislature. The Department of the Secretary of State is organized into three separate Bureaus each with Divisions listed here:

Maine State Archives with the Divisions of Archive Services and Records Management Services;

Bureau of Motor Vehicles with the Divisions of Administrative Services, Driver License Services, Vehicle Services, the Office of Investigation, and the Medical Advisory Board;

Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions which has the Division of Corporations, and the Division of Elections and Commissions. This last Bureau is described in detail in the following section.

Program

The Office engages in special projects as needed by the Department. The rest of the Bureaus carry out distinct responsibilities detailed in their separate sections.

Publications

In addition to publications about elections and commissions (following), the Secretary of State's office offers a variety of voter and consumer publications, including these (which can be found at http://www. maine.gov/sos/publications/):

Address Confidentiality program

How to Stop Telemarketing Calls: A Maine Consumer's Guide

Protect Your Privacy and Prevent Identity Fraud

Voter Registration Guide

Voting: Absentee Voter Guide

Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions

• Central Office: Cross State Office Building, 4th Floor, Augusta
• Mail Address: 101 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-624-7736
• Fax: 207-287-5874
• Website: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec
• Statutory Citation: 5 MRSA Sec. 81
• Deputy Secretary of State: Julie Flynn
  

Purpose

The Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions is the portion of the Department of the Secretary of State responsible for elections, corporations, and a variety of central filing activities. The Bureau is responsible for the following activities: conduct of state elections; process and filing oversight of the Maine Administrative Procedures Act (state agency rulemaking); recording of appointments to state offices, boards and commissions; corporation and Uniform Commercial Code filings; acting as secretariat to the Governor's Clemency Board; Notaries Public; and disclosure of financial information by state agency executive employees. The Bureau provides administrative support to the Maine State Archives and the Office of the Secretary of State.

Organization

The Deputy Secretary of State is the administrative head of the Bureau; the Directors of the two Divisions of the Bureau report directly to the Deputy. The Bureau is divided into two separate Divisions: Corporations, and Elections and Commissions. Each Division has an Assistant Director who is responsible for the functioning of that area and for the supervision of personnel. More information about the Division of Elections and Commissions is in the following section.

Program

Annual traffic includes more than 100,000 inquiries in person, over the phone and by mail, and the maintenance of more than 150,000 documents requiring action. The Bureau also has two public access workstations in the Reception area at Bureau in the Cross Office Building in order to allow walk-in users direct access to the corporate information and the online consumer services. Detailed information about the Division of Elections and Commissions is covered in the next section.

Sample Licenses

Candidate Petitions

Initiative and People's Veto Petitions

Administrative Rules and Regulations

Filings and Commissions

Executive (state agency) Financial Disclosure

Business Corporations

Limited Liability Companies

Limited Liability Partnerships

Nonprofit Corporations

Publications

For a site map go to.http://www.maine.gov/sos/site_map.html, which contains information on these and other publications:

Boards and Commissions

Publications

List of Boards and Commissions

Corporations

Non-profit Corporation

Elections and Voting

Upcoming Elections

-- Candidate's Guide for Running for Office

-- List of General Election Candidates

Voter Information

-- Maine Voter Guide

-- Voter Rights

-- Enrolled and Registered Voters by County and Town

-- Absentee Voting

-- Absentee Ballot Request

-- Find your Elected Officials

Election Results

Citizen Initiatives

-- Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election

-- List of Ballot Questions

Candidate Procedures, Forms and Reporting includes

Election Law

State Agency Rules

Rule-making Guide for Agencies

Appendix A

Note: Members with expired terms typically serve until they are reappointed or replaced.

Division of Elections and Commissions

• Central Office: Cross State Office Building, Augusta
• Mail Address: 101 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-624-7650
• Fax: 207-287-6545
• Website: www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/elec.htm
• Statutory Citation: 5 MRSA, Sec. 81
• Director of Elections: Melissa Packard
• Assistant Director: Tina Means
  

Purpose

The Elections Division supervises and administers all elections of federal, state and county offices and referenda. The Division oversees and does all recording of the appointment process for 250 boards and commissions and publishes vacancy listings. The Division maintains all records of the nearly 2000 administrative rules filed under the Maine Administrative Procedures Act (MAPA).

Organization

The Director is responsible for the functions of the Division, including the supervision of personnel. The Assistant Director reports directly to the Director.

Program

Elections: In its role of supervising and administering all state elections for federal, state and county offices, and referenda, the Division does the following:

advises election officials from 500 municipalities, 600 candidates and the general public regarding election laws and procedures;

prepares, proofreads and distributes 2000 separate ballot types and other elections materials; tabulates official elections results;

supervises recounts in contested races; and,

oversees the application of state laws pertaining to candidate and citizen initiative petitions.

The Division provides municipalities with extensive assistance in elections practices, and strives for procedures to ensure fair and efficient elections. Training of local elections officials is conducted by the Division in conjunction with the Maine Town and City Clerks Association through regional workshops and an annual conference. The Division supervises recounts of contested races and oversees the application of the State's laws pertaining to candidate and citizen initiative petitions. It coordinates the statewide implementation of the National Voter Registration Act, a federally mandated program.

Rulemaking: Under the Maine Administrative Procedures Act, the Division ensures that rulemaking procedures mandated by statute are followed by state agencies, and maintains records of rules filed under the Act. It makes rules accessible to the public through newspaper advertising and, eventually, through process of promulgation by electronic formatting. Regular public notices goes into five newspapers: Portland Press Herald, Brunswick Times-Record, Kennebec Journal, Lewiston Sun-Journal, Bangor Daily News. The Division's role is purely ministerial, focused on proper implementation of public notification and document filing. When Division staff gets "rule adoption" papers from agencies, the rules go up on to their webpage www.state.me.us/sos/cec/rcn/apa/depts.htm.

Commissions: The Division oversees and does all document recording and filing for the appointment process for 250 boards and commissions. It publishes an annual vacancy listings for all boards and commissions that is distributed in printed form to agencies, legislators and others by request; it is not available on the web.

The Division also administers the appointment, renewal and continuing education of Notaries Public, and administers the application process of Dedimus Justice candidates -- those who are appointed by the Governor for their lifetime to swear other people into official posts. The Division also processes various forms of certifications for official documents -- authentications, apostiles and incumbencies -- which certify the acts of public officials. The Division also administers the Executive Financial Disclosure requirements for state agency officials.

Department of Transportation

• Central Office: Transportation Building, One Child Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 16 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-624-3000
• Fax: 207-624-3301 (Community Services)
• Website: www.maine.gov/mdot
• Statutory Citation: 23 MRSA Sec.4205
• Commissioner: David Cole
• Deputy Commissioner for Operations and Budget: Bruce A. Van Note
• Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Planning and Communications: Gregory Nadeau
  

Purpose

The Department of Transportation was established to plan and develop transportation facilities and services designed to contribute to the economic growth of the State of Maine and the well-being of its people. The Department plans for future transportation needs, and assists in the development, operation, and maintenance of services and facilities while promoting transportation safety. Maine's transportation network includes several elements:

an internal highway system that incorporates scenic values, safety, environmental conservation, and economic considerations;

port and water transportation facilities that support the planned development of coastal resources; and,

an aviation infrastructure developed with the assistance of the Department.

Finally, the Department administers, on behalf of the state, all federal or other monies that are intended for transportation uses.

Organization

The Department is now organized into a vast array of bureaus and offices. The Department is organized into a vast array of bureaus and offices. The Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Planning and Communications oversees:

Office of Passenger Transportation

Office of Freight Transportation

Bureau of Planning

Office of Communications

The Deputy Commissioner for Operations and Budget oversees:

Environmental Office

Office of the Chief Engineer (quality and oversight; safety; agreement coordination)

Other bureaus and offices dealing with finance, administration, human resources, project development, and maintenance and operations

DOT also includes several independent, transportation-related agencies such as the Maine Port Authority, Regional Transportation Advisory Committees, Maine State Ferrys and other similar commissions.

Program

The program of the Department is accomplished through its statutorily and administratively created units. The programs of the Environmental Office, and the Bureaus of Planning, and Transportation Services can be found in subsequent sections. The Office of Policy and Communications directs public policy research and advocacy, provides federal, state and local coordination on policy issues, directs internal and external communications for the Department, and oversees public affairs and press relations. The Traffic Engineering Division has two sections. Design is responsible for signal, lighting, and signing plans, and site reviews. Operations is responsible for crash records, traffic data collection, right-of-way control, sign shop operations and maintenance of the Electrical Devices and Pavement Markings Program. The website of this Division has maps, applications for traffic movement and information about lighting, traffic monitoring, speed limits, before-you-dig advice, and signals and signs: www.maine.gov/mdot/traffic-counts/traffic-eng-div.php (email: traffic.web @maine.gov).

Publications

The Department offers publications at several places on its website; the main link is: www.maine.gov/mdot/technical-publications/technical -publications.php. Sample publications include:

Maine DOT Right of Way Manual

Transportation in Maine: The State of the System 2006

Maine DOT Environmental Office 2005 Progress Report on Implementation of the Stormwater MOA

Maine DOT Snow and Ice Control Brochure

There is also a physical library containing books, documents, videotapes and periodicals on most aspects of transportation, including design, construction, environmental issues, transportation policy, alternative and public transportation, archaeology and historic preservation, and transportation history. This library is located on the basement floor of the Transportation Building, Child Street, Augusta.

Librarian: Pamela Dow Shofner. Tel: 207-624-3230

Environmental Office

• Central Office: Transportation Building, One Child Street, Capitol Park, Augusta
• Mail Address: 16 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-624-3100
• Fax: 207-624-3101
• Website: www.maine.gov/mdot/environmental-office-homepage/other_environmental.php
• Director: Kathy Fuller
  

Purpose

The Environmental Office is charged with integrating transportation and environmental objectives and innovations as the Department of Transportation plans, develops, operates, and maintains Maine's transportation systems.

Organization

The Director reports directly to the Deputy Commissioner for Operations and Budget, and has functional connections to all other units and Bureaus.

Program

The Office provides policy and administrative coordination and leadership for the Department on environmental matters. The Office supports projects and programs of other Offices and Bureaus with such technical work as the following: hydrology, water quality, groundwater, hazardous waste, environmental management systems, permits, historic and cultural resources, field biology, landscaping, scenic resources, roadside vegetation management, and wetland mitigation. Issues of air quality, noise, and the National Environmental Protection Act are handled by the Bureau of Planning, in coordination with the Office. The Office administers three capital programs: the Scenic Byways Program, the Community Gateways Program, and the Surface Water Quality Protection Program. Each of these programs includes external nominations or applications and results in Department-administered projects. The Office has an ombudsman role in the Department for any public concerns about transportation issues and projects. Office staff is trained to direct calls or inquiries to appropriate specialists or Department staff in various bureaus.

Bureau of Planning

• Central Office: Transportation Building, One Child Street, Augusta
• Mail Address: 16 State House Station, Augusta 04333
• Telephone: 207-624-3300
• Fax: 207-624-3301
• Website: www.maine.gov/mdot/bureauweb/planninghome.htm (bad link)
• Statutory Citation: 23 MRSA Sec. 4206
• Director: Carl A. Croce
  

Purpose

The Bureau of Planning's goal is safe, efficient, economical and environmentally-sound movement of people and goods over the State's transportation network. The mission of the Bureau is work in concert with the communities to identify transportation needs, evaluate strategies, and develop plans and programs to meet current and future needs in a safe, efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable manner to promote the economic, environmental, and social well-being of the people of Maine. The Bureau of Planning is responsible for conducting systematic and comprehensive transportation planning, capital improvement program development, research, and community services activities. The Bureau responds to requests for professional and technical assistance in transportation planning and research from other State agencies, municipalities, and development groups. It also provides guidance to Department management in addressing immediate action or responses required to transportation issues as needed.

Organization

The Bureau of Planning is comprised of five basic operating Sections: Policy Development and Statewide Planning Division; Program Development and Management Division; Transportation Research Division; Community Services Division; and Systems Management Division. The Bureau's structure is consistent with transportation planning requirements contained in federal and state laws such as the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, the Clean Air Act Amendments, and the state's Sensible Transportation Policy Act.

Program

The Plan and Program Development Division is responsible for long-range transportation planning and capital improvement programming. It develops the Department's 20-Year Transportation Plan, the 6-Year Transportation Improvement Plan, and Biennial Transportation Improvement Program. The Division engages in public outreach in transportation planning through coordination with the State's Regional Transportation Advisory Committees (RTACs -- see more in box on next page), metropolitan planning organizations, corridor committees, and other regional planning interests.

Office of Freight Transportation

• Central Office: Transportation Building, One Child Street, Capitol Park, Augusta
• Mail Address: 16 State House Station, Augusta 04333-0016
• Telephone: 207-624-3250
• Fax: 207-624-3251
• Website: www.maine.gov/mdot/freight/freight-home.php
• Statutory Citation: 23 MRSA Sec.4206
• Director, Freight Transportation: Robert D. Elder
  

Purpose

The Office of Freight Transportation is charged with developing an inter-modal freight network that offers Maine shippers choice among transportation methods, increased productivity, environmental benefits and reduced transportation costs.

Organization

The staff members of the Office of Freight Transportation are divided into planning, program management, and development and marketing sections.

Program

The Office of Freight Transportation is responsible for maintaining Maine's Three Port Policy, Three Rail Carrier Strategy and for improving freight transportation on Maine's highways and railroads, waters and in the air. It provides rail inspection services, undertakes rail rehabilitation projects, and coordinates the implementation of inter-modal facilities. This Office is responsible for implementing the Industrial Rail Access Program. This Office manages the Small Harbor Improvement and the Boating Infrastructure Grant Programs. It works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Maine on dredging projects and administers the Maine Pilotage Commission.

Office of Passenger Transportation

• Central Office: Transportation Building, One Child Street, Capitol Park, Augusta
• Mail Address: 16 State House Station, Augusta 04333-0016
• Telephone: 207-624-3250
• Website: www.maine.gov/mdot/opt/passenger-transportation.php
• Statutory Citation: 23 MRSA Sec.4206
• Director: Ronald Roy
  

Purpose

The Office of Passenger Transportation is responsible for the development of an efficient, environmentally sensitive, and cost-effective passenger transportation system that encourages the use of alternative modes of transportation to meet the present and future needs of Maine's citizens, business development, and tourism. The office supports the implementation of Explore Maine, the strategic plan to develop an intermodal transportation network to move people into and around Maine without their automobiles.

Organization

The office is divided into three units: Programming Division; Planning, Development and Engineering Division; and the Maine State Ferry Service.

Program

The Planning, Development and Engineering Division is responsible for the development and maintenance of strategic planning. It works with federal agencies to assist communities with development activities for non-highway infrastructure such as air, passenger rail, marine, high occupancy vehicle, public transportation, intelligent transportation traveler information systems, and significant trail projects.

The Programming Division coordinates with communities for the activities listed above.

The Ferry Service, headquartered in Rockland, provides regularly scheduled service to islands in Penobscot Bay, including Vinalhaven, North Haven, Islesboro, Swans Island, Frenchboro and Matinicus. The Maine State Ferry Advisory Board, which works with the director of this office, advises the Department on state ferry service matters and submits an annual report that includes comments on current service and recommendations for changes as needed. Issues addressed include new terminal construction, review and update of the strategic plan, reservation policies, and other topics needing attention. The Board consists of one member and one alternate from each of the island communities serviced by the ferry, and three members appointed by the Commissioner of Transportation.

Regional Transportation Advisory Committees (RTACS)

RTACs were created by the Department to implement a requirement of the Sensible Transportation Policy Act rules in order to ensure early and effective public involvement in transportation policy. These advisory committees advise the Department on the following topics: transportation issues and goals, regional transportation needs and deficiencies, transportation improvement priorities, multi-modal system options, social, environmental and economic issues and goals, and land use issues and goals.

There are seven RTAC regions around the state each with up to 20 members. Each RTAC works a little differently; meetings generally occur between two and six times a year. Members are appointed by the Commissioner for terms of one to three years. RTACs are composed of local and state officials and other interested citizens from around the region who broadly and fairly represent the concerns of planners, environmentalists, business and commerce, historic preservation, the elderly, disabled and other interests.

RTACs are involved with several aspects of transportation planning: regional public information and participation workplans, corridor development and operations, community development, and development of the Six-Year Plan. Planners and engineers from Department staff provide information for and respond to issues raised by RTAC members. More information about the RTACS such as contacts, corridor committees, publications, regional advisory reports, maps and other resources, is available on the Department website, specifically at www.maine.gov/mdot/planning/planning div/rtachome.htm

-- The Transportation Research Division administers the Department's research programs, develops and monitors experimental construction methods, evaluates new product, and operates various pavement-testing devices. Maine's Transportation Research Program consists of six focused areas of research: Strategic Highway Research Program, Experimental Construction Monitoring, Regional Cooperative Projects, Product Evaluation & Approval, Problem Solving, and Statewide Planning and Research Projects. In depth information about current research projects can be found on the Department website.

-- The Community Services Division is responsible for roadway system and functional classification designation. This Division administers the Urban/Rural Initiative Program, the municipal salt and storage program, and Maine's Adopt-A-Highway Program. It also manages the Maine Local Roads Center_ a program that provides information, workshops, and other forums to assist local community in the operation and maintenance of their roadways.

-- The Systems Management Division assesses the condition of Maine's roadway network and the development of pavement preservation and improvement strategies; maintains an inventory of the condition of state and local bridges; oversees the Highway Safety Improvement Program and safety management system; manages transportation systems inventory databases; carries out traffic forecasting and technical studies associated with congestion management and traffic operations.

Sample Publications

Highway Safety Improvement Program

6-year Transportation Improvement Plan

20-year Statewide Transportation Plan

Access Management Handbook for Local Officials