Maine Revised Statutes

1. Department access.  A state dam inspector and any department staff member must have full access to any dam site under the commissioner's jurisdiction for the purpose of conducting an inspection or enforcing an order under this chapter subject to the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 80E.

2. Owners, lessees; necessary access.  The owners, lessees or persons in control of a dam must have access over land abutting the dam site owned by others if the access, including the passage of vehicles, machinery and equipment, is reasonably necessary to comply with an order issued under this chapter. In passing over land owned by abutters, the owners, lessees or persons in control of a dam shall make every effort to minimize the intrusion, shall restore the land to its preexisting condition to the maximum extent practicable and are liable to the abutters for all property damage caused by their activities on the abutters' land. The abutters may not be held liable to any person for any personal injuries or property damage arising from the crossing of their land by the owners, lessees or persons in control of a dam.