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Bill > LD2187
ME LD2187
ME LD2187An Act to Update Certain Water Quality Standards and to Reclassify Certain Waters of the State
summary
Introduced
02/03/2026
02/03/2026
In Committee
02/10/2026
02/10/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
132nd Legislature
Bill Summary
This bill, which is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 464, subsection 3, paragraph B, implements the recommendations of the Board of Environmental Protection resulting from its review of the State's water quality classification system and related water quality standards. As recommended by the board, the bill includes specific updates to certain water quality standards and water quality classifications based on water quality data and recommendations made by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Environmental Protection and other persons. The committee has not taken a position on the substance of the bill and by reporting this bill out, the committee is not suggesting and does not intend to suggest that it agrees or disagrees with any aspect of this bill. The committee is reporting the bill out for the sole purpose of obtaining a printed bill that can be referred to the committee for a public hearing and subsequent committee action in the normal course.
AI Summary
This bill updates certain water quality standards and reclassifies specific bodies of water in Maine, aiming to align with recommendations from the Board of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Key changes include refining standards for dissolved oxygen, bacteria levels (specifically *Escherichia coli* and enterococcus), and pH across various water classes (Class AA, A, B, C, GPA, SB, and SC) to better protect aquatic life and designated uses like recreation and fishing. For instance, Class AA and A waters now explicitly state that aquatic life should be as naturally occurs, with exceptions for approved fish stocking and management activities, and new pH ranges are introduced for several classes. The bill also reclassifies specific water bodies, such as Mount Blue Stream and parts of the Sandy River, to higher quality classifications like Class AA, and clarifies the names of certain water bodies like the East Branch Sebasticook River. These updates are part of a broader review of the state's water quality system.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Last Action
Hearing (13:00:00 2/25/2026 Cross Building, Room 216) (on 02/25/2026)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=2187&snum=132 |
| BillText | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0892&item=1&snum=132 |
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