An Act To Update Waste Discharge License Fees

LD 465 updates waste discharge license fees for Maine entities that release wastewater or pollutants into waterways. It increases all 2019 base fees by 40% (a factor of 1.4), affecting publicly owned treatment facilities, industrial operations, aquaculture, municipal systems, and other dischargers. Key provisions include new annual fees for categories like municipal sewer overflows ($711) and fish-rearing facilities ($538-$1,368), plus specific surcharges for discharges impacting shellfish areas ($12,000 annual surcharge for municipal overflows affecting shellfish, $25,000 for treatment works closing shellfish beds). The bill implements concrete fee adjustments without altering regulatory standards.