Code of Maine Rules
01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
672 - LAND USE PLANNING COMMISSION (formerly Land Use Regulation Commission)
Chapter 12 - LAND USE DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS FOR METALLIC MINERAL MINING AND LEVEL C MINERAL EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES
Section 672-12-4 - Requirements for Changes to a Subdistrict Boundary

Universal Citation: 01 ME Code Rules § 672-12-4

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

A. Commission Approval Required. An applicant who seeks a metallic mineral mining or an advanced exploration permit from the Department of Environmental Protection under Title 38, chapter 3, subchapter 1, article 9 for a metallic mineral mining project located wholly or in part within the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State must petition and receive approval from the Commission for a change in the Subdistrict boundary to a D-PD Development Subdistrict. The Commission shall hold at least one public hearing on a petition for the D-PD Development Subdistrict designation in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Commission's Rules, Rules for the Conduct of Public Hearings.

B. Criteria for Approval of a Petition to Change a Subdistrict to a D-PD Development Subdistrict for Metallic Mineral Mining and Level C Mineral Exploration Activities

(1) Pursuant to 12 M.R.S.A., Section 685-A(8-A) no change in a district boundary shall be approved by the Commission unless there is substantial evidence that:

(a) The change would be consistent with the standards for D-PD Development Subdistrictboundaries in effect at the time; the Comprehensive Land Use Plan; and the purpose, intent and provisions of 12 M.R.S.A. Chapter 206-A; and

(b) The change in districting will have no undue adverse impact on existing uses or resources or a new district designation is more appropriate for the protection and management of existing uses and resources within the affected area.

(2) When reviewing a petition to change a subdistrict to a D-PD Development Subdistrict for the purposes of metallic mineral mining or Level C mineral exploration activities and applying the statutory criteria for approval as set forth in B(1)(a) of this section, the Commission, in addition to determining consistency with the standards for the D-PD Development Subdistrict boundaries and the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, shall consider the following factors when determining consistency with the purpose, intent and provisions of 12 M.R.S.A. Chapter 206-A:

(a) Positive and negative impacts upon the areas within and adjacent to the Commission's jurisdiction resulting from the change in use and development of the area. Such impacts may include, but are not limited to, impacts to regional economic viability, Maine's natural resource-based economy, local residents and property owners, ecological and natural values, recreation, and public health, safety, and general welfare;

(b) Positive and negative impacts upon the areas within and adjacent to the Commission's jurisdiction resulting from the use and development of associated transportation routes and other infrastructure; and

(c) Potential for future reclamation and beneficial use of the affected area, in accordance with the Commission's Comprehensive Land Use Plan, following closure of the site.

(3) When reviewing a petition to change a subdistrict to D-PD Development Subdistrict for the purposes of metallic mineral mining or Level C mineral exploration activities and applying the statutory criteria for approval as set forth in B(1)(b) of this section, the Commission shall consider the following potential impacts:

(a) Potential short and long term socioeconomic impacts, both positive and negative, upon the immediate area and communities likely to be affected by the proposed activities and resulting from the construction, operation and closure of the proposed activity;

(b) Potential impacts on services (such as fire and police protection, education and solid waste disposal) and utilities, proximity or availability of those services and utilities, and obligations or burdens for communities or State, county or local governments to provide those services;

(c) Potential impacts on existing infrastructure and any needs for new infrastructure to support the proposed activities; and

(d) Potential impacts to existing uses and natural resources including, but not limited to: forest resources; historic sites; wildlife and plant habitats; scenic resources; water resources; and recreation resources.

In considering these impacts and determining whether any adverse impact associated with the proposed rezoning is an undue adverse impact on existing uses or resources, the Commission shall consider the potential for a metallic mineral mining or Level C mineral exploration permittee to avoid, minimize, or mitigate to the extent permitted by law, a potentially adverse impact so that the resulting impact is not an undue adverse impact.

C. Submittal Requirements

(1) In order to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Commission that a petition meets the criteria set forth in subsection B above, a petition to change a Subdistrict to a D-PD Development Subdistrict for a proposed metallic mineral mining or Level C mineral exploration activity must, at a minimum, contain the following:

(a) A narrative description of the nature and basis for the subdistrict change being requested;

(b) A legal description and delineation of the property boundaries proposed for redistricting, including names, addresses and affiliations of current owners and any other entities having a legal interest in the property;

(d) A preliminary plan for general location and timing of project elements;

(e) A location map drawn to scale on the most recent version of the USGS topographic map and a Maine Land Use Planning Commission Land Use Guidance Map that indicates the area for which a D-PD Development Subdistrict designation is sought and the estimated boundaries of the ore body proposed to be explored or mined;

(f) A map drawn to scale of at least 1 inch to 100 feet showing existing site conditions, including contours at 10 foot intervals or less, water courses, unique or unusual natural conditions, forest cover, wetlands, known or likely deer wintering areas, lakes, ponds, existing structures, road and transportation routes, property boundaries and names of adjoining property owners, scenic locations and other prominent topographical and natural resource features;

(g) A soils map of low intensity that encompasses those portions of the property proposed for D-PD Development Subdistrict designation, including identification of soils used in the USDA Soil Series;

(h) Surficial and bedrock geology maps at a scale of 1:24,000, or largest scale available, of the property proposed for D-PD Development Subdistrict designation;

(i) A map and or description of the location of public, private and industrial water supplies as well as mapped aquifers located within a three mile radius of the mining area or exploration site;

(j) A map and description of the location and extent of existing infrastructure to include roadways and transportation routes to be utilized, potential impacts on this existing infrastructure, as well as infrastructure to be constructed or improved;

(k) A map identifying significant natural resources and sensitive natural areas located within a three-mile radius of the mining area or exploration site including protected water bodies, significant wildlife and plant areas, fragile mountain areas, historic sites, scenic resources, public lands, registered critical areas, and Commission subdistricts;

(l) A map and description of existing uses, such as recreational uses, within a three-mile radius of the mining area or exploration site;

(m) A description of general measures that may be undertaken to assure that mining in the specified location will not have undue adverse impacts on existing uses and resources and measures that a permittee may take to avoid, minimize or mitigate any adverse impacts;

(n) A description of socioeconomic impacts, both positive and negative, of the proposed metallic mineral mining or level C mineral exploration activities upon the immediate area and communities within and adjacent to the Commission's jurisdiction likely to be affected by the proposed activities, as well as to the county and state;

(o) An evaluation of the sufficiency of existing services and utilities, a description of any general measures necessary to increase those service capacities and an examination of the burdens on communities or government to provide those services;

(p) An explanation of how this proposal is consistent with the standards and purpose of the D-PD Development Subdistrict; and

(q) A description of the anticipated site conditions following closure and the potential for future reclamation and beneficial use of the affected area.

D. Subdistrict Boundary Change for a Limited Period

A decision by the Commission on a petition for a subdistrict change to a D-PD Development Subdistrict for a metallic mineral mining or Level C mineral exploration activity must occur before a decision is made on a metallic mineral mining or exploration permit by the Department of Environmental Protection (Department), as applicable. Such a subdistrict boundary change is limited to the longer of a period of 10 years from the date of approval of the subdistrict change or the expiration date of a permit issued by the Department or the Commission for metallic mineral mining activities or Level C mineral exploration activities within the D-PD Development Subdistrict. If no metallic mineral mining or Level C mineral exploration activities occur within ten years of the Commission granting the zone change, the D-PD Development Subdistrict designation shall automatically revert to the appropriate Subdistrict designation(s). If an application for the development of the site is pending either with the Department or the Commission, the Commission, at its discretion, and for good cause shown, may extend the duration of the D-PD DevelopmentSubdistrict to allow for the completion of the proceeding. Following closure and reclamation, the landowner or lessee of the mining area shall petition the Land Use Planning Commission for rezoning to an appropriate Subdistrict designation.

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