Stewarding Our Natural Stewarding Our Natural Resources, Ensuring A Resources, Ensuring A Sustainable EconomySustainable Economy

Commissioner Patricia Aho

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Protecting Maine’s Air, Land and Water

Without our natural resources, we won’t have fishing, farming, or forestry.

Without our natural resources, we wouldn’t be “Vacationland” or “The Way Life Should Be.” Without the views of our

mountains, lakes, coast, or our rolling fields – we won’t have tourism.

We won’t be Maine.

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

DEP By the Numbers

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

410 staffFour offices

-Central Maine Regional Office/Commissioner’s Office (Augusta)-Southern Maine Regional Office (Portland)-Eastern Maine Regional Office (Bangor)-Northern Maine Regional Office (Presque Isle)

$60.4 million spending (less than 10% from general fund)

DEP By the Numbers

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

Issue 5,000+ licenses/permitsRespond to nearly 3,000 oil and hazmat spillsPartner in training, funding the 2800 inspectors who conducted 76,000+ courtesy boat inspections in 2011 Facilitated and partially-funded creation of 20 community water districts $1.3 million in enforcement in 2011 ($600K to SEPs)Oversee:

45 active landfills/230 active transfer stations 882 gravel pits/100 in UTs 500+ long-term remediation sites

Priority: Improve Permitting Process

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

Permit Area 2010 Average 2011 Average

Land (W/PBRS) 30 Days 27 Days

Land (W/O PBRS) 78 Days 64 Days

Solid Waste 196 Days 169 Days

•Since May 2011, the Air Bureau has reduced its license backlog (dating back to 2006) by 71%

“Working with the DEP on our expansion project was much easier than I anticipated. I prepared for the

worst and was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly it went. From the timely site inspection to the quick meeting date for the application review, all went

without a hitch. I expect our expansion to be completed on time with DEP’s help. This addition will

allow us to house five new machining centers and create a minimum of 15 new, good-paying jobs

with excellent benefits.” -Kevin Nelson, VP of Operations, Mid-State Machine Products, Winslow

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

“I would like to express what a quick turnaround means for everyone involved. Many municipalities in Maine will not issue

site plan approval contingent on approval of a Stormwater Management Law Application. That means we must have a

DEP permit in hand before the municipality will give site plan approval. Some even go as far to require a permit be submitted

four weeks in advance of any final site plan meeting. As you know, this creates timing nightmares for Developers and other

applicants that can delay construction for 4-6 months depending on the season. To get our permits quicker means

municipalities will begin to collect taxes earlier, local contractors in the area will go to work earlier, and 12-15 employees of the TSC store will be employed earlier.”

-Chris Kettler, Michigan-based developer of seven Tractor Supply Stores in Maine

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

Priority: Enhance Culture of Cooperation •Senior team has private & public sector experience•Refocused Office of Assistance/Assistance Hotline•Launched facility manager pilot project•Launched in-house cross-media licensing team•Relaunch of Governor’s Awards for Env. Excellence•Overhaul of DEP website

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

New Website

Priority: Regulatory Reform

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

•In-house rule audit (existing 200 rules)•LD 1 authorized OC routine technical rulemaking

– Repealed five rules outdated due to newer state or fed regulations & improved technology

– Adopted six rules (including beneficial reuse of wood ash and isopropyl alcohol)

– 10 +/- currently in process at DEP/3 major substantive at BEP

Regulatory Reform Continued

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

– Storage of lobster traps on docks– NRPA amendments regarding sand dunes– Beneficial reuse – IWWH Permit-By-Rule– Shoreland zoning clarifications, flexibility – Minor source air permits from five to 10 years– Clarifications, exemptions to site law– Overhauling wastewater discharge fee system

Where We Are Headed

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

•Focus on core priority implementation•Reassignment of LURC and SPO duties•Create efficiencies (internal and external)•Development a more multi-media trained staff

– Assess pilot project results and implement recommendations

•Predictable, pragmatic regulatory process•Encouraging engagement in Augusta

Stewarding our natural resources, ensuring a sustainable economy

All of us here today share an appreciation for and have a collective commitment to Maine’s environment and natural resources. We also

share the belief that we can have both a strong and healthy environment and a robust

and sustainable economy. Thank you for joining us to move Maine forward together.

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION www.maine.gov/dep

www.maine.gov/dep