Maine § 487-A. - Hazardous activities; transmission lines

§ 487-A.. Hazardous activities; transmission lines

1.  Preliminary notice required for hazardous activities. 

2.  Power generating facilities.  In case of a permanently installed transmission line carrying 100 kilovolts, or more, proposed to be erected within this State by a transmission and distribution utility or utilities, the proposed development, in addition to meeting the requirements of section 484, must also have been approved by the Public Utilities Commission under Title 35‑A, section 3132.

In the event that a transmission and distribution utility or utilities file a notification pursuant to section 485‑A before they are issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity by the Public Utilities Commission, they shall file a bond or, in lieu of that bond, satisfactory evidence of financial capacity to make that reimbursement with the department, payable to the department, in a sum satisfactory to the commissioner and in an amount not to exceed $50,000. This bond or evidence of financial capacity must be conditioned to require the applicant to reimburse the department for its cost incurred in processing any application in the event that the applicant does not receive a certificate of public convenience and necessity.  

3.  Easement required; transmission line or gas pipeline.  In the case of a gas pipeline or a transmission line carrying 100 kilovolts or more, a permit under this chapter may be obtained prior to any acquisition of lands or easements to be acquired by purchase. The permit must be obtained prior to any acquisition of land by eminent domain.

4.  Notice to landowners; transmission line or gas pipeline.  Any person making application under this article, for approval for a transmission line or gas pipeline shall, prior to filing a notification pursuant to this article, provide notice to each owner of real property upon whose land the applicant proposes to locate a gas pipeline or transmission line. Notice must be sent by certified mail, postage prepaid, to the landowner's last known address contained in the applicable tax assessor's records. The applicant shall file a map with the town clerk of each municipality through which the pipeline or transmission line is proposed to be located, indicating the intended approximate location of the pipeline or transmission line within the municipality. The applicant is not required to provide notice of intent to construct a gas pipeline or transmission line other than as set forth in this subsection. The department shall receive evidence regarding the location, character and impact on the environment of the proposed transmission line or pipeline. In addition to finding that the requirements of section 484 have been met, the department, in the case of the transmission line or pipeline, shall consider whether any proposed alternatives to the proposed location and character of the transmission line or pipeline may lessen its impact on the environment or the risks it would engender to the public health or safety, without unreasonably increasing its cost. The department may approve or disapprove all or portions of the proposed transmission line or pipeline and shall make such orders regarding its location, character, width and appearance as will lessen its impact on the environment, having regard for any increased costs to the applicant.