12 §6121. Fishways in existing dams or artificial obstructions - Maine Statutes

Title 12: CONSERVATION

Part 9: MARINE RESOURCES

Subpart 1: ADMINISTRATION

Chapter 605: GENERAL DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES

Subchapter 4: FISHWAYS

§6121. Fishways in existing dams or artificial obstructions

1. Commissioner's authority. In order to conserve, develop or restore anadromous fish resources, the commissioner may require a fishway to be erected, maintained, repaired or altered by the owners, lessors or other persons in control of any dam or other artificial obstruction within coastal waters frequented by alewives, shad, salmon, sturgeon or other anadromous fish species.

[ 1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR) .]

2. Examination of dams. The commissioner shall annually examine all dams and other artificial obstructions to fish passage within the coastal waters in order to determine whether fishways are necessary, sufficient or suitable for the passage of anadromous fish.

[ 2001, c. 190, §1 (AMD) .]

3. Initiation of fishway proceedings. The commissioner shall initiate proceedings to consider construction, repair or alteration of fishways in existing dams or other artificial obstructions whenever he determines that either of the following conditions may exist:

A. Fish passage at the dam or obstruction in issue, whether alone or in conjunction with fish passage at other upriver barriers, will improve access to sufficient and suitable habitat anywhere in the watershed to support a substantial commercial or recreational fishery for one or more species of anadromous fish; or [1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR).]

B. Fish passage at the dam or obstruction in issue is necessary to protect or enhance rare, threatened or endangered fish species. [1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR).]

[ 1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR) .]

4. Adjudicatory proceedings.

A. A fishway proceeding shall be an adjudicatory proceeding under the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter IV, but a hearing may not be required unless requested in accordance with paragraph B. Notice of the proceeding shall be given in accordance with Title 5, section 9052, and the following requirements:

(1) Personal notice shall be given to the dam owner, lessee or other person in control of the dam or artificial obstruction, informing that person that a proceeding has been undertaken and of his right to request a hearing; and

(2) Notice to the public, in newspapers of general circulation in the areas affected, notifying the public of the initiation of the proceedings and of the public's opportunity to request a hearing. [1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR).]

B. If any interested person requests a public hearing, the commissioner shall, within 30 days, either notify the petitioners in writing of his denial stating the reasons, or schedule a public hearing. The commissioner shall hold a public hearing whenever:

(1) He is petitioned by 50 or more Maine residents; or

(2) The owner, lessee or other person in control of the dam or artificial obstruction requests a public hearing. [1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR).]

C. The commissioner shall accept testimony from the dam owner, lessee or other person in control of the dam or artificial obstruction on alternate fishway designs to those proposed by the commissioner for that dam or artificial obstruction. [1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR).]

[ 1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR) .]

5. Decision. In the event the commissioner decides that a fishway should be constructed, repaired, altered or maintained, his final orders shall be issued with specific plans and descriptions of the fishway construction, alteration, repair or maintenance requirements, the conditions of the use of the fishway and the time and manner required for fishway operation. The commissioner may issue a decision requiring the owners, lessees or other persons in control of the dam or obstruction to construct, repair, alter or maintain a fishway. Such a decision shall be supported by a finding based on evidence submitted to the commissioner that either of the following conditions exist:

A. One or more species of anadromous or migratory fish can be restored in substantial numbers to the watershed by construction, alteration, repair or maintenance of a fishway, and habitat anywhere in the watershed above the dam or obstruction is sufficient and suitable to support a substantial commercial or recreational fishery for one or more species of anadromous or migratory fish; or [1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR).]

B. The construction, alteration, repair or maintenance of a fishway is necessary to protect or enhance rare, threatened or endangered fish species. [1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR).]

In the event that the commissioner decides that no fishway should be constructed, he shall specify in that decision a period immediately subsequent to that decision during which no fishway may be required to be constructed. That period may not exceed 5 years.

[ 1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR) .]

6. Compliance.

A. The owner, lessee or other person in control of the dam or other artificial obstruction shall be jointly and severally liable for the costs of fishway design, construction, repair, alteration or maintenance and for full compliance with a decision issued pursuant to subsection 5. If the owner, lessee or other person in control of the dam or other artificial obstruction refuses to comply or does not fully comply with the commissioner's decision, the commissioner shall initiate a civil action to enjoin the owner, lessee or person in control of the dam to comply fully with the commissioner's order or to restrain the violation of an order. In the proceeding, the court shall not review the legality of the commissioner's order, except when the owner, lessee or person in control of the dam or artificial obstruction has brought a timely petition for judicial review pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter VII. [1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR).]

B. The court may render judgment against and order the sale of the dam or other artificial obstruction, the land on which it stands and a right-of-way to the dam or artificial obstruction in order to secure the costs of fishway construction, repair, alteration or maintenance and costs of the court-ordered sale and the costs incurred by the department for fishway design. The purchaser of the dam or other obstruction shall be subject to the commissioner's decision. [1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR).]

[ 1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR) .]

7. Privileged entry. The commissioner, the commissioner's agents or subcontractors are privileged to enter upon any private land in order to examine, at least annually, fishways in dams or other artificial obstructions and the examination of dams provided in subsection 2. The commissioner shall notify the landowner, lessee or other person in control of the dam when the examination will take place and the time required to complete the examination. The commissioner shall make every effort to preserve private land and shall restore surrounding lands to the grade and condition existing prior to entry, if economically feasible.

[ 2001, c. 190, §2 (AMD) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW). 1979, c. 127, §84 (AMD). 1983, c. 388, §1 (RPR). 2001, c. 190, §§1,2 (AMD).