Management Plan - National Estuarine Research Reserve System

Appendix ETowns experiencing less growth were given a longer time to comply with the Act. However, in 1991,budget cuts removed most of the state financial support and technical assistance, and dismantled mostof the mandatory provisions of the Act. The tiered-deadlines to regulate land uses were replaced by aJanuary 1, 2003 deadline that applies only to communities that have enacted zoning (other than shorelandzoning), building or growth caps, or impact fee ordinances.The Act encourages municipalities, except those municipalities within the jurisdiction of LURC, todevelop a local growth management program that is consistent with the ten state goals. A local growthmanagement program consists of two steps, the preparation of a comprehensive plan that complies withthe Act and the preparation of an implementation program that is consistent with the comprehensive plan.The comprehensive plan is the primary mechanism in the local growth management program. It sets fortha vision of the municipality’s future and is a source of basic information about existing and expectedconditions in the municipality. However, the comprehensive plan is not effective until it is implementedthrough policies and ordinances or other land use regulations that carry out the purposes and generalpolicy statements and strategies of the comprehensive plan. These policies and ordinances constitute theimplementation programThe Maine State Planning Office is responsible for the overall implementation of this Act. SPO aidsmunicipalities by developing and supplying information on available technical assistance resources, aswell as planning grant financial assistance.Site Location and Development Law (Site Law)Administered by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, this law requires review ofdevelopments that may have a substantial effect upon the environment. These types of development havebeen identified by the Maine Legislature, and include developments such as projects occupying more than20 acres, metallic mineral and advanced exploration projects, large structures and subdivisions, and oilterminal facilities. A permit is issued if the project meets applicable standards addressing areas such asstormwater management, groundwater protection, infrastructure, wildlife and fisheries, noise, and unusualnatural areas.The applicant for a new Site Law development (except for a residential subdivision with 20 or fewerdevelopable lots) is required to attend a pre-application meeting. This meeting is an opportunity for theapplicant to determine the requirements that apply to the project. The meeting with licensing staff isintended to help identify issues, processing times, fees, and the types of information and documentationnecessary for the DEP to properly assess the project.Certain exemptions apply. The Site Law applies in organized areas of the State for purposes of all typesof development, and in unorganized areas of the State for purposes of oil terminal facilities, and metallicmineral mining and advanced exploration.Natural Resources Protection ActThe purpose section of the Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA) is to protect areas of the Statethat are of statewide significance, including resources such as rivers and streams, great ponds, fragilemountain areas, freshwater wetlands, significant wildlife habitats, coastal wetlands, and coastal sand dunesystems. These resources have been determined to have great scenic beauty and unique characteristics,as well as recreational, cultural, historical and environmental value to the people of Maine, and that usesare causing the rapid degradation and, in some cases, the destruction of these critical resources, producingsignificant adverse economic and environmental impacts and threatening the health, safety and generalwelfare of the citizens of the State.The law is focused on “protected natural resources.” A permit is required when an “activity” will be:Management Plan: Appendix E189