This bill amends the laws regulating permits for hydropower projects to include the following provisions applicable to the removal of an existing dam that is part of a hydropower project.
1. An applicant for a permit to remove an existing dam must propose removal of the entire dam structure and not just a portion of an existing dam.
2. If any portion of the dam structure is located on land owned by a municipality or other government entity, the applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Department of Environmental Protection or Maine Land Use Planning Commission, as applicable, that the municipality or entity has approved the removal of that portion of the dam structure.
3. If the removal of the dam is expected to result in the alteration of water levels in the body of water from which the dam is removed, the department or Maine Land Use Planning Commission, as applicable, must require as a permit condition that prior to dam removal, the applicant identify all landowners expected to be affected by that alteration of water
42 levels and set aside sufficient funds for reimbursing those landowners for the corresponding
43 loss in property value following dam removal.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 846, HP 532: 38.634