06- 096 C.M.R. ch. 310, § 1
The Legislature has found that the State's freshwater wetlands, great ponds, coastal wetlands, rivers, streams, and brooks are resources of state significance, that these resources have great scenic beauty and unique characteristics, unsurpassed recreational, cultural, historical, and environmental value of present and future benefit to the citizens of the State, and that uses are causing the rapid degradation and, in some cases, the destruction of these critical resources, producing significant adverse economic and environmental impacts and threatening the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the State. The Legislature has also found that the cumulative effect of frequent minor alterations and occasional major alterations of these resources poses a substantial threat to the environment and economy of the State and its quality of life. The terms "wetland", "wetlands", "waterbody", and "waterbodies" are used interchangeably and collectively in this rule to refer to freshwater wetlands, great ponds, rivers, streams, brooks, coastal wetlands, and the areas adjacent to them.
In recognition of the important roles of wetlands in our natural environment, the Board of Environmental Protection supports the nation-wide goal of no net loss of wetland functions and values. In some cases, however, the level of mitigation necessary to achieve no net loss of wetland functions and values through construction of replacement wetlands will not be practicable, or will have an insignificant effect in protecting the State's wetlands resources. In other cases, the preservation of unprotected wetlands or adjacent uplands may achieve a greater level of protection to the environment than would be achieved by strict application of a no net loss standard through construction of replacement wetlands. Therefore, the Board recognizes that a loss in wetland functions and values may not be avoided in every instance.
The purpose of this rule is to ensure that the standards set forth in Section 480-D of the Natural Resources Protection Act, Section 464, Classification of Maine Waters and Section 465, Standards for Classification of Fresh Surface Waters are met by applicants proposing regulated activities in, on, over or adjacent to a wetland or water body.
06- 096 C.M.R. ch. 310, § 1