The Public Utilities Commission proposed to adopt a new rule on the procurement of renewable energy promoting the use of contaminated land. The rule would provide guidance for the procurement of renewable energy resources, including providing a preference for resources located on contaminated lands. A hearing will be held March 19, 2024. Comments are due March 29, 2024. See https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/notices/2024/022824.html.
The Department of Energy and Environment adopted amendments to regulations governing battery stewardship infractions. The revisions schedule fines for violation of rules related to battery stewardship. See https://dcregs.dc.gov/Common/DCR/Issues/IssueCategoryList.aspx?DownloadFile={3E3B27A5-EB75-4907-B429-DFBA466EBF09}.
The Department of Natural Resources proposed amendments to regulations governing oil and gas practice and procedure. The amendments would, among other things, add and revise several definitions, including “community liaison,” “cumulative impacts,” and “disproportionately impacted community,” and update current permitting requirements to further address cumulative impacts of oil and gas operations. A hearing will be held April 9, 2024.
The Department of Energy and Environment proposed amendments to regulations governing storage tanks. The amendments would, among other things, conform to new payment requirements from the Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund established in Act 422 and incorporate provisions for lapsed licenses and reinstatement and reciprocity and provisional certificates. A hearing will be held March 27, 2024. Comments are due April 10, 2024.
The Department of Agriculture adopted a new rule for prescribed burning. The rule establishes the criteria for a "qualified prescribed burner" and creates a review committee responsible for designing initial and ongoing training programs, as well as evaluating the qualifications of applicants from other jurisdictions. See http://170.94.37.152/REGS/209.00.23-001F-23877.pdf.
The Department of Environmental Management adopted new regulations to establish a brownfield remediation reserve fund. The regulations provide a mechanism to implement a cleanup program that encourages applicants to voluntarily assess, clean up, remediate, and provide for the productive reuse of brownfield sites. See https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/api/filing/65285ed0c9b8d1e3f50b6baf/filing.