PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Protect Neighborhoods from Scrap Metal Pollution
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  current laws regarding the storage of scrap materials do not adequately protect the public health and safety, and facilities are currently requesting authority to store scrap materials; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §3754-A, sub-§5, ¶C,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 247, §2 and affected by §7, is further amended to read:
 
C.  Junk, scrap metal, vehicles or other solid wastes may not be placed or deposited, directly or indirectly, into the inland waters or tidal waters of the State or on the ice of inland waters or tidal waters of the State or on the bankswithin 1,000 feet of inland waters or tidal waters in such a manner that they may fall or be washed into these watersof the State;
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §3754-A, sub-§5, ¶C-1  is enacted to read:
 
C-1.  Junk, scrap metal, vehicles or other solid wastes may not be placed within 700 feet of a residence of an abutting property owner;
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits junkyards and automobile graveyards from placing material within 1,000 feet of inland and tidal waters or within 700 feet of a residence.